*Australian, WW2, RAAF Slouch Hat, Dated 1942, Failsworth Hats Ltd, Size 7, with Hollow-Back Eagle Badge – Excellent Condition*
A truly outstanding example of a WW2 Royal Australian Air Force slouch hat, dated 1942 and manufactured by Failsworth Hats Ltd. This is not just another slouch hat — it is an exceptionally well-preserved wartime piece, complete with its original khaki puggaree and the correct RAAF eagle badge mounted on the distinctive red/white/blue Commonwealth Air Training Scheme patch. The badge itself is the sought-after hollow-back wartime type, retaining both original fixings and a pleasing untouched patina.
The hat features the classic wide brim, central crease, and ventilated crown with red eyelets. Inside, the original leather sweatband remains intact, crisply impressed “Failsworth Hats Ltd / 7 / 1942” — a detail that immediately authenticates its wartime manufacture.
Historical Note:
The RAAF expanded at breakneck speed during WW2, growing from a small interwar force of under 3,500 personnel in 1939 to more than 180,000 officers and airmen by 1945, making it the fourth-largest Allied air force after the RAF, USAAF, and Soviet Air Force. Under the Empire Air Training Scheme, tens of thousands of Australians trained in Canada and Britain, with the red/white/blue flash becoming the instantly recognisable emblem of RAAF airmen across the world.
Slouch hats were worn both at home and overseas, from North Africa and the Mediterranean to the jungles of the Pacific, becoming a symbol of the RAAF’s unique identity. British-made examples, such as this one by Failsworth, were produced in limited numbers to supplement Australian suppliers and are significantly rarer on the market than locally made hats.
Failsworth Hats Ltd of Manchester, founded in 1903, was one of Britain’s established felt hat makers that took on military contracts during the Second World War. As the Royal Australian Air Force expanded rapidly under the Empire Air Training Scheme, thousands of Australians were stationed in Britain, Canada, and other Commonwealth training centres. To avoid the delays and shipping demands of sending hats from Australia, the British government contracted firms such as Failsworth to produce RAAF-pattern slouch hats locally.
These British-made hats were mainly issued to Australians serving overseas, particularly those training in Canada and Britain or attached to RAF commands in Europe. They carry British sizing (such as “Size 7”) rather than Australian measurements, marking them out immediately as overseas issue. Because Australian production supplied the majority of home-based personnel, British-made examples like this are far scarcer today, and represent a tangible link to the RAAF’s presence on the world stage during WW2.
*Condition*
This example is in excellent condition, far above the norm for surviving WW2 slouch hats. The felt body is strong and retains its shape with no moth damage or major distortions. The brim is sound and firm, the khaki puggaree remains tight and clean with minimal age toning, and the eagle badge sits proudly on its original ribbon backing. Internally, the leather sweatband is complete with only light service wear and retains a clear wartime maker’s stamp. Overall, this is an exceptionally crisp and highly displayable example. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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