re Rhydian Evans’ comments, posted on 21 June, in the modern British Army, cr*p hats are also known as (strangely) forage caps. They are those nice smart hats worn with your Number Twos or Number Ones (that is, your best dress uniform). No idea why we called them cr*p hats but there you go. It is also Para slang for anyone fortunate enough not to be a Para. Military Police are known as Redcaps or Cherry Berets, from the nice bright red berets they wear, something like the red coats of the ordinary infantry in Sharpe’s day. Just thought you might like to know! Keri Tolhurst, ex Royal Signals