EUI - Shakos, slouch hats, and zouves - A comparative study of the transfer of military thought and practise between Britain, Canada and Aus

The main aim of this study is to focus on the transfer of military thoughts and practices within the British empire c.1870-1918. These thoughts and practices emanated, in large parts, from discussions within the British army concerning their own grappling and interpretation of the emerging professionalization of the military seen throughout continental Europe. Simultaneously, Britain was encouraging and helping its dominions to establish their own military organizations and thus making them responsible fo r a greater part of the cost of imperial defence. Hence, important research questions will centre around how this new notion of professionalism was received, adopted, rejected, re-interpreted or even re-exported by the dominions of Australia and Canada, b oth within civilian and military society.