New Unit: ANZAC WWII, 2 Jan 2005

[GeneralX]

Did the Aussies military really have wide brimmed hats as part of its uniform? I though that was a crocodile dundee thing... as far as historical accuracy goes, he should definately have a knife instead of that gun.

Yes they did wear those hats, and we still do. They have been worn since the Boer War (and earlier by some regiments). By the time WWII came about there was more to them than just the hat. There would be the Rising Sun badge, a puggaree (of various folds and/or colours) and a colour flash (each unit had its own of distinctive colours, shapes and patterns). The modern version also has a Corps or Regimental badge positioned on the front. As I mentioned above, if you are in a Cavalry Regiment (or Light Horse) you also have an Emu feather on one side. The hat can be worn with the brim flat, or for ceremonial purposes one side is raised up.

As far as the knife goes I’m not quite sure what you are referring to. Our soldiers used machetes in jungle warfare, but apart from that (and bayonets) I don’t recall any other bladed weapon being standard equipment.

The Owen SMG, according to one digger I use to know (before he died), was about as reliable as you could get, and excellent for jungle warfare and clearing trenches/weapon pits.

Just a short note on the use of the term “ANZAC”. It was first used in WWI to refer to the Australian New Zealand Army Corps. It is important to remember that the New Zealanders are part of it. These trans-Tasman cousins of ours have been beside us in many a campaign and deserve equal recognition. They get their noses out of joint if they are forgotten when referring to ANZACs. They are even worse when we beat them at rugby, cricket, netball etc.

 

[Bungus]

As far as the knife goes I’m not quite sure what you are referring to. Our soldiers used machetes in jungle warfare, but apart from that (and bayonets) I don’t recall any other bladed weapon being standard equipment.

"That's not a kneife, that's a knife!"


...Everything I know about Australia I've learned from Paul Hogan

 

[Abaddon]

"So you've played knifey- spoony before!"

 

[andy_p]

[Originally Posted by Bungus
Did the Aussies military really have wide brimmed hats as part of its uniform? I though that was a crocodile dundee thing... as far as historical accuracy goes, he should definately have a knife instead of that gun.]

I know they used them in WW1, and in Aussie WW2 films they o wear them. Like in "a town called Alice"