Slouch hat worn by Vernon Britland, 2nd Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), in Burma, 1942-1946

Slouch hat with a plaited leather cap band and flash for 'The Buffs; on the left hand side, a formation badge of the 36th Division.

The slouch hat was the iconic piece of headgear worn by soldiers in Burma during World War Two, 1941-1945. For many, it was preferable to the steel helmet.

Vernon Britland was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940. He was transferred from the Royal Sussex Regiment into The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) on on 5 October 1942, and then shipped out to join the 2nd Battalion in India. The 2nd Battalion went on to serve in the Burma campaign with the 36th Division.

The 36th Indian Infantry Division was established in December 1942 in central India, and was composed of the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade group and the 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade, which was, confusingly, composed entirely of British units. A new divisional flash was created by amalgamating the badges of the two brigades; the 29th Independent Brigade's was a white circle on a black rectangular background, the 72nd Brigade's was a red circle on a black background. These were intertwined on a black rectangular background to make the badge of the 36th Indian Infantry Division.

In September 1944 it was redesignated as a British Army formation, the 36th Infantry Division. In December 1944 a third brigade, the 26th Indian Infantry Brigade, was added.

After the Second World War, the division was disbanded, and its remaining British units were transferred to the British 2nd Infantry Division.