Commando Berets.

Hello all.
Apologies for what may seem a silly question...

Were all commando berets, including Army and RM, the same shade of
green?

Thanks.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/12/2011 00:12:28

Hi Steve

I believe they were all the same. They were all issued from the same source on passing out at Achnacarry (in the main). You may get minor variation from the various manufacturers Kangol, Surpac, etc. Plus aging can change the colour quite a bit (see attached).

There is a post war darker green beret worn by rifle regiments, nothing to do with Cdos

cheers
Paul

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 22/12/2011 13:12:54

The Army Commandos and the Royal Marine Commandos had the same colour green berets - it is still worn by the Royal Marines and Army Commandos today and is known as Commando Green.

The Rifles, The Royal Gurkha Rifles and The Royal Irish Regt (when not wearing a caubeen) wear a dark green beret - known as Dark (Rifle) Green.

The Adjutant General's Corps wear a Green Beret.

The Intelligence Corps wear an Emerald Green Beret.

NicK

Goodmorning and Merry Christmas,

Here is a pic of my 1942 dated Kangol green beret. In this case badged to no2 Dutch troop, No 10 1-A commando. 1942 was the first year the green beret was issued

Cheers
JB

Paul,

What a stunning beret indeed! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
JB

Belly wrote:Hi Steve

I believe they were all the same. They were all issued from the same source on passing out at Achnacarry (in the main). You may get minor variation from the various manufacturers Kangol, Surpac, etc. Plus aging can change the colour quite a bit (see attached).

There is a post war darker green beret worn by rifle regiments, nothing to do with Cdos

cheers
Paul

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 25/12/2011 13:11:54

Hi All. and a very Merry Christmas.

Here is another photo of Idris Jones' Green Beret which he wore throughout both the N. African and Burma Campaigns, as No1 Commando were the first Commando unit to be issued with this head dress, this particular example must be from the first batch of Green Berets produced. I have looked closely inside and can see no makers markings, except for what seems to be a very faint outline of a pentagon or diamond, however this outline looks more like punture markings of very llight stitches rather than printed lines.

Cheers Andy

[/img]

Hi JB,

With great interest I saw your picture of the green beret from No 2 Dutch Troop. Is there perhaps a name written in the inside of the beret which might link it to the owner? Could be interesting to know for our Dutch Commando museum.

Cheers,

Jack

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 25/12/2011 13:30:59

Andy Maines wrote:Hi All. and a very Merry Christmas.

Here is another photo of Idris Jones' Green Beret which he wore throughout both the N. African and Burma Campaigns, as No1 Commando were the first Commando unit to be issued with this head dress, this particular example must be from the first batch of Green Berets produced. I have looked closely inside and can see no makers markings, except for what seems to be a very faint outline of a pentagon or diamond, however this outline looks more like punture markings of very llight stitches rather than printed lines.

Cheers Andy

[/img]

Andy

If you are extremely careful you can spray a little water on the inside of the beret, this then reveals the original printed writing. My Des Rochford beret had the same problem but water tested it revealed the markings:

7?
KANGOL WEAR LIMITED
/I\
1944

See before and after pictures attached. The test caused no damage whatsoever

All the best
Paul

Hi Paul

Thanks for the advice, I was also given this tip by JB, however having tried it twice now, no markings have yet been revealed as you will see from the attached photo. You will also see that the diamond shape outline is not made from actual stiches rather what seems to be puncture markings without any thread.

Cheers Andy

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 25/12/2011 16:09:58

Hi Jack,

Sadly there is no name in it or do I have provenance. The only other markings are a faint WD stamp with the letter "0" which is the inspection war department mark for 1942. The other years are N 1943, M 1944 and Z 1945.
Could you see from the pattern badge if it is an officers badge or other ranks?

regards

JB

Jack Bakker wrote:Hi JB,

With great interest I saw your picture of the green beret from No 2 Dutch Troop. Is there perhaps a name written in the inside of the beret which might link it to the owner? Could be interesting to know for our Dutch Commando museum.

Cheers,

JB

Jack

Andy Maines wrote:
You will also see that the diamond shape outline is not made from actual stiches rather what seems to be puncture markings without any thread.

Cheers Andy

The puncture holes are in fact caused by a diamond piece of plastic being stitched inside the beret on manufacture.
Presumably this plastic served some purpose - whether to stop sweat marks or to prevent shrinkage or even to make the beret more waterproof where it sits on the crown of the head I don't know.
I do know that, in my experience, beret wearers always removed the plastic diamond - and still do to this day.
Certainly I used to remove as much of the black lining material and the hessian reinforcement around the inside as well so that the beret could be shaped easier.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 26/12/2011 09:50:33

Nick,

As far as I am aware plastic only appears in post war berets. Kangol, supak, beret industries ltd or British basque berets did not apply this during ww2.

Cheers
JB

Hi JB,

To my knowledge there was no difference between an officers badge and other ranks, but I'll try to find out if I am right or not.

Jack

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 26/12/2011 13:39:43

Thank you all for the replies.

Here are a couple of fots showing a modern reproduction compared to the older, darker beret I have recently "aquired".

Jack

See some info from Talens on ww2 cap badges and no 2 Dutch troop.

Not sure if mine is brass or "mat goud".

Regards
JB

Jack Bakker wrote:Hi JB,

To my knowledge there was no difference between an officers badge and other ranks, but I'll try to find out if I am right or not.

Jack