What Sort Of Hats Will They Wear?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 94, 11 September 1950, Page 4

What Sort Of Hats Will They Wear?

Will members of K-Force wear overseas the familiar New Zealand peaked hat (“lemon squeezer” to the soldier), now on issue to them, or will it be replaced? This question is being asked among the men. Army officers in Auckland say they do not know and the decision rests with headquarters in Wellington. Suggestions have been made that New Zealand troops will wear the new British type battledress made cf waterproof material and styled with numerous pucke ; .s. This and a new type of heargear is said to be “under consideration in Wellington. Men who served in J-Force are unanimous that their beret, the “cap, general service,” commonly known as the “flying saucer,” is unsuitable in every way for countries like Japan or Korea. It gives no protection from torrential rain during the monsoon season, and in summer does not protect the wearer from the scorching sun. Its only advantage is that it does not take much space and can be carried folded in a bag or pocket. An advocate for the issue of the “lemon squeezer” to New Zealand troops going to Japan from Italy was the then brigade group commander, Major-General K. L. Stewart, now Chief of the General Staff. He considered it would be more suitable in Japan.

Army headquarters flatly rejected his representations, it was said, But now may decide on the hat he favoured.