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Slouch hat is associated with military uniform and was worn by the armies during 18th century. Slouch hat is one of the varities of felt hats and popularly known as Australian Bush hat. The characteristic feature of the hat is that one edge of the hat is pinned up in such a fashion so that rifles can be adjusted. In USA Slouch hats are popularly known as Kossuth Hat, named after the eminent politician and lawyer Lajos Kossuth.
Slouch hats emerged in Australia in around 1885. A painting of 1884, showed that the first battalion of Agryll and Sutherland Highlanders wore this type of hat. In the following years the hat became highly popular particularly during the Second Boer War when it was used by different units of British army like Imperial Yeomanry, City Imperial Volunteers and King's Edward Horse. However armies of different nations refused to use Slouch hats but the popularity was restored during Burma Campaign in The Second World War.
Slouch hats were common among the colonial force of Germany, commonly known as Schutztruppe. The hats gradually became popular in different countries like South West Africa, German East and West Africa as the hat was worn by the German armies in these nations. The hat gradually became more common in Africa and were even seen in the motion pictures like Jungle Jim.
During the first World War, the hat became popular with Australian army. Akubra Company in Australia manufactured the hat for the Australian army. The hat is known as the Terai Hat among the Gurkhas. The hat, which was worn by the British Indian Army is still used by the Gurkhas. The Second Gurkha Rifles was the first section of Gurkha army who used the Slouch hats. The Terai Hat varies to some extent from the typical Australian Slouch hats. The Terai hats are usually tilted at an angle.
Slouch hats gained world wide popularity during the Second World War. It was worn by the British Fourteenth Army of Field Marshall William Slim when they fought the Japanese army. The hat was used by the different colonial armies of British empire including the Yukon Field Force of Canada, Royal West African Frontier Force and the Kenya Regiment. The Australian Army wore a colored patch on the hat to indicate the particular unit. Slouch hats were also worn by the US army during China Burma India Theater of Second World War.
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