10th Princess Mary`s Own Hat (Light Brown 04)

This particular felt Gurkha Hat was previously worn by the soldiers from The 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, (abbreviated to 10 GR). The regiment first recruited Gurkhas in 1890 and campaigned in Burma before fighting in the First World War. 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles is one of the four infantry regiments which in 1994 were combined to form the Royal Gurkha Rifles. From 1948 to 1960 it was very active in the Malayan Emergency and in 1963-66 in Indonesian Confrontation.

It has now been more than a century since this hat was first introduced into Gurkha Regiments for field service wear. In 1901 the 2nd Gurkha Rifles became the first Gurkha regiment to adopt the slouch hat. To the present day, felt Gurkha Hats have become synonymous with the Gurkha soldiers. The hat went on to be worn by Gurkha units on the frontiers of India and in all the operational theatres during both World Wars. Today, it is worn by Gurkha units of the British and Indian Armies, the Nepalese Army, and by many Gurkha police & security units around the world. The Kilmarnock hat was adopted during the second half of the 19th Century and became the universal headdress of Gurkha Regiments. But it had very little to commend when worn in the field. It neither gave protection from the burning sun nor the heavy monsoon rain. In The British Army, it is no longer worn in the field and it is now primarily confined to parades and ceremonial duties.

Different regimentals’ badges are mounted on the hat to distinguish soldier and officer from each other’s regiment.
Regimental Hat badge as requested by our beloved customers.