Puggarees & Hat Bands of the Australian Military Forces 1903-1939

1903 - 1912

The first dress regulations for the Military Forces of the Commownwealth were the 'Officer's Dress Regulations (Provisional)' of 1903. In 1906 the 'Standing Orders for Dress and Clothing' were published and provided a near complete description of the articles of clothing then in use by officers and other ranks. The description of puggarees was the same in both orders, although the 'Officer's Dress Regulations' did not include the distinctive puggarees worn by various Light Horse, Artillery, Engineer and Infantry regiments.

Puggarees were worn with Commonwealth and Service Dress. Of the same shade as the jacket they were to measure 2 1/2 inches at sides, and 1 1/2 inches back and front. The centre fold of the puggaree was of a distinctive Regimental colour, except for Staff, whose puggaree was plain.

Staff

Plain

1903 - 1912

Light Horse

White

1903 - 1912

Artillery

Red

1903 - 1912

Engineers

Blue

1903 - 1912

Infantry (Militia)

Dark Green

1903 - 1912

Australian Intelligence Corps

Pale Blue

1903 - 1912

Army Service Corps

White

1903 - 1912

Corps of Australian Signals

Royal Purple

1903 - 1912

Army Medical Corps

Chocolate

1903 - 1912

Army Ordnance Department

Blue

1903 - 1912

Army Veterinary Department

Maroon

1903 - 1912

Volunteers (Infantry, except Scottish)

Dark Green

1903 - 1912

1st Australian Light Horse

(New South Wales Lancers)

Scarlet, Turkey-twill, made on a canvas band, with three folds, 2 1/2 inches at side, 1 1/2 inches in front.

1903 - 1912

3rd Australian Light Horse

(Australian Horse)

Black silk (officers)/cashmere (other ranks), fast dye, made on a canvas band, with 3 folds 2 1/2 inches at side, 1 1/2 inches in front.

1903 - 1912

Field Artillery (Helmet)

(New South Wales)

Top two rows, scarlet; and the five remaining rows, dark-blue.

1903 - 1912

Garrison Artillery (Helmet)

(New South Wales)

Top row, red; remaining six, dark-blue.

1903 - 1912

Corps of Australian Engineers, Militia (Helmet)

(New South Wales)

Blue and scarlet - First, second, fifth, and sixth folds from top scarlet, remaining folds blue.

1903 - 1912

St. George's English Rifle Regiment

Silk, 2 1/2 inches in width, in three pleats; the centre pleat scarlet; the upper and lower, buff.

1903 - 1912

New South Wales Irish Rifles

Silk, with 1 narrow row dark-green Cashmere, 2 narrow rows light-green Cashmere, 1 narrow row red Cashmere, 1 narrow row dark-green Cashmere, 1 narrow row dark-green Cashmere, 1 row dark-green Cashmere.

1903 - 1912

Rifle Clubs (Optional)

Silk ribbon, shade to match hat, 1 3/4 inches wide, which includes 1/4 inch on top, Emerald Green.

1903 - 1912

1912 - 1931

Due to the introduction of Universal Training, the resulting rapid expansion of the Citizen Forces of Australia, and the decision to supply officers and other ranks with uniform free, patterns of uniform were simplified and the number of articles issued reduced during this period.

Puggarees were withdrawn from the lists of clothing and a cloth (wool) hat band was issued instead. Those regiments that had previously worn distinctive puggarees lost this privelage with the introduction of the 'Standing Orders for Dress and Clothing' in July 1912.

It would appear that Staff and Instructional Corps continued to wear a plain drab puggaree during this period, although it is not stated in either the 1912 or 1918 orders. In the 'Orders for Clothing' of 1921 a plain drab puggaree is authorised for both Staff and Intructional Corps. Hat bands would continue to be worn with the hat by all other units until 1925, when Light Horse regiments were ordered to wear a plain drab puggaree.

Light Horse

White

1912 - 1922

Artillery

Scarlet

1912 - 1931

Engineers

Dark Blue

1912 - 1931

Engineers (Signal Units)

Royal Purple

1912 - 1931

Infantry

Green

1912 - 1931

Intelligence

Light Blue

1912 - 1931

Army Service Corps

Blue and White

1912 - 1922

Army Medical Corps

Chocolate

1912 - 1931

Army Veterinary Corps

Maroon

1912 - 1931

Automobile Corps

Brown (Leather)

1912 - 1922

Rifle Clubs (Optional)

Silk ribbon, shade to match hat, 1 3/4 inches wide, which includes 1/4 inch on top, Emerald Green.

1912 - 1922

ANZAC Provost Corps

Navy Blue

AIF Order No.496 1917

ANZAC Provost Corps

Australian Provost Corps

Red

AIF Order No.719 1917

Flying Corps

Blue with White Centre Stripe

1918 - 1922

Army Ordnance Corps

Red with Blue Centre Stripe

1918 - 1922

Staff & Instructional Corps

Drab (Puggaree)

1921 - 1931

Light Horse

Khaki

1922 - 1925

Army Service Corps

White with 1/2 Inch Blue Centre Stripe

1922 - 1931

Army Ordnance Corps

Blue with 1/2 Inch Red Centre Stripe

1922 - 1931

Senior Cadets

Green

1922 - 1931

Light Horse

Drab (Puggaree)

1925 - 1931

1931 - 1939

In 1931 puggarees were re-introduced for all units. The dimensions of the puggaree remained unchanged from that introduced in 1912. Distinctive regimental coloured folds were again adopted. Although it is not stated in orders it would appear that the centre fold was coloured. Several original examples have been noted with the centre fold coloured.

In 1935 Permanent units adopted a coloured cloth band instead of the puggaree as a means of distinguishing them from Militia units.

Staff & Instructional Corps

Drab (Puggaree)

1931 - 1939