Overview
Original Date: 1957
Type: Hat
Era: 1953-1960 Boy Scout Years
Condition: Very Good
Description
This is not the beret of a typical Boy Scout, but that of an adult leader. In the 1950s, the maroon beret was the official headwear for the Senior Scout section (ages 15-18) in the United Kingdom. The Red Plume indicated an Assistant Scout Master.
Images
Historical Context
Pin and Plume: This is the critical piece of evidence for the beret. The metal fleur-de-lis pin is the standard badge for a Scouter (an adult leader). The colored “plume” or “hackle” behind it indicates the leader’s specific rank. According to the regulations of that era:
White Plume: Indicated a District Scout Master.
Red Plume: Indicated an Assistant Scout Master.
Green Plume: Indicated a Scout Master.
Provenance & Personal Connection
Source: My personal collection from swapping at the Jubilee Jamboree in 1957
How I Acquired It: I traded some prized possession with this Assistant Scout Master who traded me his hat.
Personal Notes: The label inside the beret indicates D. M. Bradley who would have been a leader of a troop of the British contingent’s Senior Scout section at the Jamboree.
Physical Details
The beret itself is a maroon wool felt with a traditional black leather headband. The insignia is the official Scouter’s Hat Badge (the silver fleur-de-lis) fitted with the red plume for his specific rank.
While the “trophy hat” you got from the other English Scout tells the story of a boy’s achievements, this beret tells the story of a young man in a position of leadership. He was likely a young man, possibly in his late teens or early 20s, serving as a leader for a troop of Senior Scouts. It’s a very sharp and official piece of the British uniform from that event.
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Last Updated: November 15, 2025