Forage cap

The term was later applied to undress caps worn by men of all branches and regiments as a substitute for the full dress headdress.

[3] Known as the bonnet de police, these caps resembled a nightcap and were also worn by Santa Anna's army during the Mexican War.

[4] Worn in a khaki version until 1940, the bonnet de police retained the high pointed crown of 1915–1918.

In 1945 however the bonnet de police was reintroduced for most units but with a lower crown and in the historic colours that had formerly distinguished the kepis of each branch.

Prior to 1914 these caps were worn in a wide variety of colours according to regiment or branch, with Prussian blue the most common.

In Greece forage caps were adopted during the period of the First World War, when most of the weapons and supplies were of French origin.

This cap continues in military (Österreichisches Bundesheer), border guard (Österreichs Garde),[8] and police use with the Republic of Austria, although the camouflaged version worn today retains only the peak, not the chinstraps, of its predecessor).

In the British Army, infantry forage caps were first regulated by the War Office in 1811 as a practical head dress that could be worn off duty, in barracks or in camp, in place of the cumbersome shakos and various forms of helmet comprising regimental headdress.

The caps ordered in 1811 were of knitted and felted wool, blue-grey in colour with a white band around the base.

(The German Army forage cap of the Second World War was similar, but of two distinct types, one with an eye-shading peak or bill, the other without.)

RAF field service caps can still be bought privately and worn on duty by all ranks as working dress.

They are commonly worn with flying suits, as they are easier to stow in a side pocket or cockpit than SD caps, but only air vice-marshals and above are authorised to wear them with combat uniform.

In the Civil War the M1858 forage cap, based on the French kepi, was the most common headgear worn by union troops even though it was described by one soldier as "Shapeless as a feedbag".

U.S. Army regulations called for insignia to be put on the top of the cap, with branch of service (infantry, cavalry or artillery) in the middle, company letter above and the regimental number below.