Story: Clothes

Lemon-squeezer hat

Lemon-squeezer hat

New Zealand servicemen of the First World War were distinguished by the hats they wore. Dubbed 'lemon-squeezers' because of the shape, these hats were first worn by the Taranaki Rifles Regiment, a reserve force. The design was inspired by Mt Taranaki but was practical, because it allowed rain to run off. The symbolic power of the lemon-squeezer was harnessed in this Second World War poster calling for recruits. 

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: GH015835

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How to cite this page:

Fiona McKergow, 'Clothes - Uniforms', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ephemera/41161/lemon-squeezer-hat (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Fiona McKergow, published 5 Sep 2013