West Indian Soldiers in the Great War

…e Allied effort during the First World War. As noted on the Centenary News.com website: “The West India Committee explains that it was ‘at the heart of the British Caribbean’s war effort’. In 1915, it established its own Contingent Committee to coordinate efforts to get men from the region to the front… Some 16,000 men volunteered for the newly-formed British West Indies Regiment. Soldiers from the BWIR served on the Western Front, in the Middle E…

Pith Helmet of the 7th Battalion The Tank Corps

…Corps had become The Royal Tank Corps with a further name change when they combined with the newly mechanised Cavalry Regiments to become the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939. 7th RTR Parading in India 1920s (courtesy of 4th/7th Royal Tank Regiment.com) The helmet itself is of a typical Wolseley pattern with a leather trimmed edge and 8 fold puggaree. On the left side is a 7th Tank Corps Patch of Red, Brown and Green with an embroidered number 7. Seve…

What’s In a Name? The Pressed Fiber Helmet

…s a “helmet, fiber.” Further research has shown that the International Hat Company, which continued to supply helmets to the American military at least until the 1970s, actually adopted the U.S. naming convention. Original boxes from the late 1960s indicate that the helmets were officially distributed as “HELMET, SUN, RIGID, FIBER, KHAKI,” yet a period example features an internal stamp noting, “HELMET, SUN RIGID, FIBRE.” Apparently there was stil…

Regimental Identity and the 20th Century Khaki Helmet

…he base of the helmet’s crown. The pugaree can be plain, consist of a set number of folds, include colour folds or consist of a simple coloured ribbon – Badge – a regimental badge, placed either on the side or on the front. – Flash – a rectangular piece of material featuring the regimental tartan, or colours, often in silk but could be made of any material – Embellishment – typically a plume or hackle. Three examples of helmets displaying flashes…

A Trail of Khaki

…native.” The Battalion did have a bright spot in Pvt. Charles Kennedy of A company who carried a comrade quite some distance to safety on the 22nd under a withering fire, again on the 23rd he ventured into “certain death” to deliver a message. His steadfast courage and intestinal fortitude earned him the Victoria Cross. Lt. Thomas Patrick Milne-Home on the other hand was not so venerated. He was Court Martialed in Bloemfontein 29 January 1901, for…