POSSIBLE SIR A.G CUNNINGHAM 8Th ARMY / DESERT RATS CONNECTION**WW2 1944 British General’s Tropical Slouch Bush Hat By Failsworth Hats Ltd, The Sweatband Marked ‘Sir Alan’. Sn 21968:5 And associated rank insignia Clothing

**POSSIBLE SIR A.G CUNNINGHAM 8Th ARMY / DESERT RATS CONNECTION**WW2 1944 British General’s Tropical Slouch Bush Hat By Failsworth Hats Ltd, The Sweatband Marked ‘Sir Alan’ With Associated Rank Insignia. Sn 21968:5 - 21968:5

Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham (born May 1, 1887, Dublin, Ire. —died Jan. 30, 1983, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Eng.) was a British army officer who scored important victories over Italian forces in eastern Africa during World War II, enabling the exiled emperor Haile Selassie to return to power in Ethiopia. He then commanded Eighth Army in the desert campaign (a period image of Sir Alan in tropical uniform is illustrated in image 1). This is an original WW2 Tropical Slouch / Bush hat bought from a Manor House sale in 1973 Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent. The hat has its original khaki headband and its khaki body is undamaged. It has its original ventilation holes and press stud fastener on the left side of the brim and skull & leather chin strap. The hat is mounted with several British General’s rank insignia in metal, embroidered cloth and Bullion which is topped by King’s Crown. The turned up brim has a cloth formation patch with ‘GR’ (George Rex) Royal Cypher. The hat has its original leather sweatband. The sweatband is impressed by the maker ‘Failsworth Hats Ltd’ and 1944 date together with size ‘7 1/8’ . The inside of the sweatband has a period ink hand written name ‘Sir Alan’ (possibly Sir Alan Cunningham). The hat is clean with no mothing. Accompanying the hat are a pair of General’s red cloth insignia with brass king’s Crown brass buttons which were bought with the hat. The price for this interesting set worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 21968:5

£750.00