While we typically write about the history, use and even the evolution of military sun helmets and other tropical headdress, I felt it necessary to address another aspect of sun/pith helmets. Recently, First Lady of the United States Melania Trump was called out for simply choosing to wear a pith helmet as a part of a “safari” inspired outfit.
While the sun/pith helmet remains the iconic headdress of the colonial empires established by the European powers in the second half of the 19th century it wasn’t the only headgear favored by those colonial forces. Indigenous colonial forces utilized a variety of headdress of course, while slouch hats were increasingly favored by various units beginning in the 1880s. One of the more notable variations was the German slouch hat, which largely used in German South West Africa. Continue reading
The Ellwood and Sons’ “Roman” Air Tube design was among the first British-made sun helmets. Its design came about largely as a result of Great Britain’s expanding empire in India and parts of Africa. It was in many ways an answer to locally made helmets, which were increasingly necessary due to the tropical heat of the subcontinent.
By the time of the Indian Mutiny, which began in 1857, the British had already had a presence in India for well more than 200 years yet it wasn’t until the 1840s – coinciding with the effects of the end of the Little Ice Age in Europe – that serious consideration was given to making uniforms and headdress more comfortable for wear in hot weather.
Back in 2012 this reporter offered a brief history that involved “knights, secret societies and a castle destroyed in an explosion.” At the time I admitted it had the making of a Da Vinci Code setup but was far less exciting – if not somewhat interesting to collectors. Now the time has come for a sequel, one that at least might make more sense than Dan Brown’s Inferno, a book/movie that still makes little to any sense!
This story revolves around knights and their Egyptian temple, but more importantly could help explain why at least one of the fraternal groups of the late 19th century adopted white helmets that were similar in design to the helmets worn by the various military forces of the day. Continue reading
The British “Foreign Service Helmet” was introduced in the 1870s for use in its overseas colonies. Around the same time the “Home Service Helmet” – known today amongst collectors as the “blue cloth helmet” – was introduced for use by units the British Army whilst stationed in the UK. The Foreign Service Helmet notably was replaced by the Wolseley pattern helmet, while the Home Service Helmet remained in use through World War I and was gradually phased out in the years following the horrific conflict.
Today both patterns have been relegated for use by bandsman and for certain very formal situations. It is the latter situation where the helmet was reintroduced not once but actually a total of three times for a unit that actually didn’t exist back in the 1870s. Continue reading
Sun/pith helmets in the movies have often been hit or miss – and in some cases have even caused some confusion regarding fact vs. fiction. Most notably are the helmets in the 1964 epic Zulu, which featured helmet plates on the front. Because of this movie many new collectors expect that helmet plates were generally worn in all stations abroad (The helmet plate was authorized only for the so-called Mediterranean stations).
However, the 2016 production The Legend of Tarzan offered rather surprisingly good depictions of the Belgian Congo’s Force Publique. While these are technically the “villains” in this overly PC movie, which is just the latest take on the “King of the Apes,” the uniforms and helmets are actually fairly accurate.
Recently this reporter came across the most unique of American military sun helmets from the 19th century, but that is actually only half the story. In addition to the first helmet, a second one was found at the Baltimore Antique Arms Show. It is a rather simple New York National Guard type helmet, but what makes this one of note is that while most of those are typically found heavily whitened this one has never been whitened and is in its native/naked khaki.