Pile cap: Private Geoffrey Noel Wood, 3RAR

US Army issue field pile cap. Attached to the front peak of the cap is an oxidised brass rising sun collar badge and 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title. The pile cap is made of cotton poplin, synthetic fur on the ear flaps and peak with a woollen crown lining.

This pile cap was worn by Private Geoffrey Noel Wood when he served with 3 Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment between March and June 1951. Wood fought in the Battle of Kapyong on 23-24 April 1951. He also served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War from October 1942 until January 1946.

American pile caps were issued to Australians in late 1950 – early 1951. It is the most iconic uniform piece worn by the Australians in Korea, variations of the pile cap (fur and quilted) were also worn by the Chinese and North Korean armies. The ear flaps have been tied up as the Australians were told not to wear them down due to hearing issues.

Winters in Korea commonly got below zero degrees Celsius. Australians serving in Korea had sometimes come from serving in the South West Pacific which had tropical conditions. They often got frostbite on their extremities and early on in the war supplemented their uniform with far superior American winter issue clothing such as woollen long johns, waterproof pants, pile jackets and windproof coats.