Canadian 8th Mounted Rifles Officer's Service Dress Cap

Canadian 8th Mounted Rifles Officer's Service Dress Cap

Khaki thin wool twill service dress cap has cloth-covered visor, brown leather chinstrap with Canadian general service side buttons, and an 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles cap badge on the front.  The cap shows significant grime and service wear, with damage to the fabric on the back of the band.  Interior has a partially legible trade label under the dark and degrading crown protector, with a heavily soiled but intact brown leather sweatband.  The interior of the cloth-covered visor has a break that you can feel, but it does not deform the visor.  This piece of headgear has been stored flat for some time, and suffers a bit of deformity due to that, but this should be something that could be remedied by gently working it into shape on a properly supported archival hat form.  Definitely a cap that has seen extensive service use!

The 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles was formed in December 1914, recruiting men from Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto before mobilizing at Ottawa under Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Munro of the 5th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. The regiment contributed drafts to the Canadian Expeditionary Force throughout 1915 and sailed for England in October with 31 officers and 601 other ranks.​

Upon arrival, a major reorganization of Canadian mounted units occurred. Effective March 2, 1916, the 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles was absorbed into the Depot Regiment Overseas Canadian Mounted Rifles. Its personnel provided reinforcements to the Canadian Mounted Rifles battalions serving with the 8th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division on the Western Front. The regiment was officially disbanded in June 1918.​

Though the unit initially trained and deployed as mounted infantry, the transition to trench warfare quickly led to its conversion to infantry roles, reflecting the changing nature of combat during the First World War.

$200 - $300