Sennit Hat

By Crusader1307

The so-call ''Sennit'' Hat (sometimes referred to as a ''Boater'' or simply Straw Hat), was a popular form of Hat worn by first Civilian and then Military sources in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The name ''Sennit'' derived from the more ancient practice of weaving strands of plant material (dried) into useful material. These panels (of straw), were fashioned into shealths and even light Armor. Many European Armies and The American Army had no formal form of warm weather headgear, with Military Officers using them. During The American Civil War of the 1860s, whole Confederate Regiments adopted The Sennit as headgear. However, their basic design was such that they did not hold up against the rigors of War. However, many Naval Officers still retained their use for a period. The Sennit Hat was worn mostly without any military embellishments. The British Army replaced them fairly quickly with The Pith Helmet, which lasted longer and provided a minimum amount of better protection to the head. The Civilian version would last well into the 1930's.