Crested china 'lemon squeezer' hat : First World War

China 'lemon squeezer' service hat. The hat is gilded around the edge of the brim. The coat of arms for Southend on Sea in Essex, is on the rear of the hat.

Crested china collecting became a craze in the Victorian period when tourists bought small ivory coloured porcelain ornaments decorated with the coats of arms of the towns they visited to take home as a souvenir. Before the First World War companies (the most famous and the original being Goss crested china) made collectibles such as vases, plates and other crockery, houses, public buildings, cars and replicas of visitor attractions. During the war the range of souvenirs was expanded to include military caps, equipment and vehicles. This style of service hat was worn by New Zealand forces, and later American forces during the First World War (with some variation). It was generally referred to as the 'lemon squeezer' hat, due to the shape of the crown. Americans called it the 'campaign hat' or 'Montana Peak' hat.