BERET

Description: OUTSIDE OF HAT IS MAROON WOOL. INSIDE IS LINED WITH BLACK COTTON? EDGE OF HAT HAS A BLACK LEATHER TRIM, THROUGH WHICH A BLACK ELASTIC IS STRUNG AND TIED AT BACK. THERE ARE TWO SMALL HOLES ON RIGHT SIDE OF HAT WITH BLACK METAL GROMMETS ON THEM. ON FRONT OF HAT IS A BRASS BADGE CONSISTING OF TWO ARROWS CROSSING EACHOTHER. INSIDE HAT IS A TAG WITH THE LETTERS "M", "P", "HB", "V"; TAG IS VERY FRAGILE. WOOL IS STARTING TO WEAR THROUGH ON TOP.

History: THE DONOR OF THIS ARTIFACT, JOHN LLOYD KNIGHT, SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE (ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEVILS BRIGADE) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THIS BERET GOES WITH UNIFORM P20000036002-4-GA. KNIGHT RECEIVED THE MAROON BERET AFTER VISITING THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS POST SEPT, 1943. IT IS KNIGHT’S ORIGINAL ISSUE BERET. HE STATED IT WAS THROWN INTO A “STANDING” KITBAG AND HE EXPECTED TO GET ACCESS TO THE BAG AND ITS CONTENTS DURING “RESTS”. KNIGHT RETURNED TO CANADA WITH TWO SUCH KITBAGS AND HIS BACKPACK. ULTIMATELY IT WAS ONLY WORN BY KNIGHT IN 1945 WHILE HE WAS AT ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE. IN THE FIELD, KNIGHT WORE EITHER HIS STEEL HELMET OR A STOCKING CAP ALONG WITH HIS COVERALLS. SEE RECORD P20000036001-GA FOR DONOR BIOGRAPHY AND BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FSSF.