VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENTS SIGN SLOUCH HAT

“Australia’s four living Victoria Cross recipients have signed a slouch hat that is hoped will raise tens of thousands of dollars for Soldier On and its work with today’s wounded diggers.”

An Australian Army slouch hat has been signed by all four living Australian Victoria Cross recipients. The hat is presented in a beautiful display cabinet and adorned with special limited edition medallions featuring each of the VCs and a replica Victoria Cross medal.

This piece is the only one in existence and therefore is extremely unique and valuable. Every cent raised by the hat will go directly to Soldier On and assist in its ongoing work helping servicemen and women who have wounded – physically and mentally – serving in today’s wars.

The money raised will also help Soldier On build on its programs for younger veterans needing support with rehabilitation, building self esteem and confidence, or help finding new careers post service. Soldier On also supports community events to help all Australians understand the plight of our young vets.

The man behind the unique VC Slouch Hat, Greg from Countrywide, said it took ‘two solid months of effort’ to gather the signatures of Keith Payne VC, Mark Donaldson VC, Ben Roberts-Smith VC and Daniel Keighran VC. This humble Australian Slouch Hat has crisscrossed the nation.

Bidding on the Hat is not for the faint hearted. Two slouch hats signed by Soldier On Patron-in-Chief, Mark Donaldson VC, raised $20,000 and $30,000 at earlier auctions.  With all four VC signatures this hat is an amazing piece of history and given the effort it took Greg to bring it together, it is not likely to ever be repeated.

Greg says the final signature was Ben Roberts-Smith VC. With Ben’s signature the project was all most complete.

Greg took the hat and had a custom perspex enclosure made. He added to the presentation a series of limited edition medallions and replica VC medal from a very special ‘In the Service of Others’ collection created in 2013 (also in support Soldier On). This medallion collection was the first time the VCs, and Australia’s sole living George Cross Recipient, Michael Pratt, came together for Soldier On. 

Just like Countrywide and our four VCs you can help today’s diggers – even if you cannot afford the expected (hoped) final bid for the Hat. Share this post and make more people aware that our younger diggers need support.

A bit about the ‘In the Service of Others’ medallion collection featured with the VC Slouch Hat.

The medallion collection was designed by the son of a Vietnam Veteran and nephew of a decorated Australian Army soldier. Each medallion bears the likeness of our living VC or GC recipients and includes their individual citations for which they received their awards. You can read their citations and see the medallions in detail here.

We wish you luck if you’re bidding. Remember, Soldier On relies on donations (no Government funding) to help our wounded. You can make a donation directly or get your Soldier On gear to show your support online.