Author Archives: Barry O'Sullivan

New Zealand and the Peaked Felt Hat

As we approach the 100th year anniversary of the end Great War in 1918, a lot of retrospective thinking, review and discussion has been taking place.

One area of discussion is the interruption of the uniforms, equipment, regulations and distinctions of the New Zealand military forces. One of these distinctions is the peaked felt hat, commonly called the lemon squeezer. When and how did it begin? How did it evolve? Did New Zealand invent the peaked felt hat? And which was the first unit to officially wear the peaked felt hat?

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