1961 – 73 British Royal Tank Regiment Officers Astrakhan Beret. Rare.

1961 – 73 British Royal Tank Regiment Officers Astrakhan Beret. Black astrakhan beret with two lines of gold piping around outer headband, hackle in the regimental colours of brown, red and green, and an embroidered badge in silver thread. Manufacturers label Herbert Johnson (Bond Street) Ltd. BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HATTERS HERBERT JOHNSON (BOND STREET) LTD. 38 NEW BOND ST. LONDON. W. Initials N.P.W. to the sweatband. The imitation black Astrakhan No1 Dress Beret was authorised in 1961 for wear by officers. A regimental hackle (3 coloured feathers) was inserted behind the badge. However, a few years after its inception, the Astrakhan had become a something of a joke having acquired a variety of unflattering nicknames (the hackle itself was described as an `irritating adornment`) and very few officers would wear it. Almost universally loathed, the parade beret was consigned to the dustbin of history after only 12 years." "The Tank Museum, 31/8/ 2012 News & Events". CN3