Identification of Kepi

[Anthony Holley]

Good Morning,

It would be greatly appreciated if someone were able to confirm this kepi is a Romanian WWI Kepi. Thank you for your assistance.

Kind regards,

Anthony

 

[FROGSMILE]

7 hours ago, Anthony Holley said:

Good Morning,

It would be greatly appreciated if someone were able to confirm this kepi is a Romanian WWI Kepi. Thank you for your assistance.

Kind regards,

Anthony

 

It is certainly of a style favoured by the Kingdom of Rumania between 1912 and 1918, albeit for officers, and the dress uniforms for soldiers.  Once modern field dress was adopted during WW1 the more common cap had a distinctive point at front and rear that sloped downward in between looking rather like a tent.

The particular features of the smarter cap were the ‘cockade’ (rosette) secured in place by a button, and overlaid (superimposed) strap made up from round cord.  This was quite unusual, and I cannot find it on other nations headdress.  It seems unique and is still a peculiar feature of Rumanian ceremonial headdress even today - see lowermost image below.

However, the rosette was more often in the Rumanian colours of red, yellow and blue, and I’ve not been able to track down the significance of all-red, as in your case, so there is some small element of doubt still.

The officers caps were usually more decorated too, so perhaps yours is for a very junior officer, or perhaps a senior sergeant major.  The plume appears to have originally been removable and only worn for special occasions.

Edited 25 August , 2023 by FROGSMILE