The General Service Cap Small Crown, also known as the British GS Cap or early Battle Dress beret, is an iconic piece of headgear widely worn by British and Commonwealth troops during the Second World War. This “small crown” version features a lower profile, creating the distinctive wartime silhouette seen in countless period photographs from 1940–1945.
Manufactured by Kay Headdress, this reproduction focuses on historical accuracy in shape, fabric and overall finish. Made from wool in an authentic brown tone, it perfectly complements British Battle Dress uniforms. The compact crown design allows the beret to sit neatly and naturally on the head, just as it was worn during the war.
The cap is suitable for fitting a regimental or corps badge at the front, making it ideal for re-enactment, living history displays, film productions or collectors completing a British WW2 uniform impression.
At Delware Trading, we select reproductions that remain faithful to the original wartime look in cut, colour and material. This General Service Cap is a key component for any accurate British WW2 Battle Dress setup.
Specifications:
- Model: General Service Cap – Small Crown
- Type: GS Cap / BD Beret
- Manufacturer: Kay Headdress
- Material: Wool
- Colour: Brown (British tone)
- Suitable for: British and Commonwealth WW2 impressions
Subtle historical advice (cross-sell):
This cap pairs perfectly with a British WW2 Battle Dress blouse, correct shoulder titles and an appropriate regimental badge.
Historische Context
The General Service Cap was widely introduced within the British Army at the beginning of the Second World War. It was worn together with the Battle Dress (BD) uniform and gradually replaced earlier forms of headgear.
The badge shown in the photograph is a Royal Corps of Signals cap badge (Other Ranks), included as an example. The Royal Corps of Signals was not a division but a separate corps within the British Army, responsible for all military communications, from field telephones to radio networks connecting infantry, artillery and command units.
British divisions wore their formation signs as cloth patches on the sleeve, not on the beret. The badge shown is therefore an example of a corps cap badge.
Please note:
This General Service Cap is supplied without a cap badge. The badge shown in the photographs is for display purposes only, illustrating how the cap was historically worn.
