Jungle hat worn in Burma

This jungle hat was worn by Brigadier Robert Patrick Scott of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment during the Burma Campaign of 1944-1945. It is made from khaki cotton, and the emblem of crossed keys above the brim is the badge of the 2nd Infantry Division, to which the 2nd Battalion belonged.

After their attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, the Japanese expanded their empire with incredible speed, decisively defeating American, British and Dutch forces to seize their colonies in the Pacific, including Hong Kong, Malaya (modern Malaysia), the Philippines, Dutch New Guinea, Singapore and Burma (modern Myanmar). In April 1944, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolks were flown across India to Dimapur on the Burmese border, joining the Fourteenth Army in a desperate effort to prevent the Japanese from advancing further into India. After three months of brutal fighting in the monsoon-drenched hills around Kohima and Imphal, the British, Indian and African units managed to halt the offensive, and the starving Japanese troops were forced to retreat."

Brigadier Robert Patrick Scott had served in the Norfolk Regiment in the First World War and rejoined it in 1939, helping to rebuild the 2nd Battalion after its devastating losses in the Battle of France in 1940. As a Colonel during the Burma campaign, he was in his element, fighting alongside his men on the front lines. In one exchange of grenade throwing, he matched the enemy bomb for bomb until he was wounded and carried away on a stretcher, shouting and cursing.

Lieutenant Sam Horner later remembered an incident with Robert Scott regarding hats during preparations for an extremely difficult assault. 'Robert Scott said: "Bush hats will be worn!" General Grover said: "Tin hats will be worn!" Then there was a row between Robert and his Divisional Commander. Robert didn't mind what he said, to whomever they were - he said: "Well, that's a bloody silly order, Sir! They'd be much better if they had bush hats, much easier for the men". John Grover said, "Yes, I hear what you say, Robert, tin hats it is and stop arguing!"'