Jump to content

Service Cap vs. Garrison Cap


gunbarrel
 Share

Recommended Posts

In WWII, when would a service cap have been worn, as opposed to wearing a garrison cap and viceversa? Could either one be worn with an Ike jacket?

 

Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Either was indeed worn with the Ike Jacket.

As to when, I can't tell you (am currently at work), but I am sure others here can.

 

Erwin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Service Caps have been at different times issue items and optional purchase items. They started the war as issue and at some point became optional, I don't remember the exact date. After the war they became issue again and eventually became optional again before both the service caps and overseas hats were replaced by the baret. Service caps were a descrationary item, when they were issued to everyone it was at the descrition of the commanding officer which would be worn in formations and inspections, the uniform of the day would be Class A with Service Cap or Class A with overseas hat which ever he wanted. For off duty wear it was up to the individual, if you were going downtown planing on a night of drinking and fighting you would not want to worry about losing or crushing your service cap espeically if you bought it so you would probably wear the overseas hat. If you were going to see your girl or looking for one you would probably wear the service cap because it was more imperssive looking. So basically, when on duty you wore what what you were told to wear and when off duty you wore what you wanted to wear, there were no hard and fast rules other than they were worn with Class A and when they were optional they were only worn off duty .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you, very much, for the information! thumbsup.gif

 

I suspect that the visor cap was not issued from about 1940 on, except possibly to Aviation Cadets. Those who had them probably kept them while others bought them on their own. The overseas cap became the common item of wear, though the visor was often worn while on leave. Let's face it, the visor was expensive to make and a challenge to maintain, especially in a dufflebag, especially when compared to the overseas cap.

 

Officers had to buy the visor, but usually wore the overseas cap.

 

It was probably 1947 or later before visor cap issue resumed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

craig_pickrall

My father was drafted in 1943 and the service cap was part of his uniform issue. I know he did not buy it for certain. Most of the state side pics of him in class A's was with the service cap. After he went overseas all of the pics were OS caps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My father was drafted in 1943 and the service cap was part of his uniform issue. I know he did not buy it for certain. Most of the state side pics of him in class A's was with the service cap. After he went overseas all of the pics were OS caps.

 

Interesting. I have never seen one QM dated after 1939. Can anyone else shed info here? How about dated pix?

 

G

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did some checking and according to Clothing the Soldier of World War II QMC Historical Studies (this is a government publication so it is basically straight from the horse's mouth) the QMC did a study on headgear in 1941 and as a result the Cotton and Wool Service Caps, the Winter Cap, the Tropical Helmet, and the Fur Cap were all reclassified. This dose not mean that they immediately disappeared, it means no new contracts were given out but the ones on hand were still issued until they ran out so you could have been issued one much later. It also meant that you could not be required to have one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did some checking and according to Clothing the Soldier of World War II QMC Historical Studies (this is a government publication so it is basically straight from the horse's mouth) the QMC did a study on headgear in 1941 and as a result the Cotton and Wool Service Caps, the Winter Cap, the Tropical Helmet, and the Fur Cap were all reclassified. This dose not mean that they immediately disappeared, it means no new contracts were given out but the ones on hand were still issued until they ran out so you could have been issued one much later. It also meant that you could not be required to have one.

 

Makes sense to me, though I suspect the tropical helmet was stillmade/issued later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...