The regiment was first raised in 1887 as the Aligarh Levy but was disbanded after disgracing itself at the Rawalpindi Review in 1888. In 1890 it was reformed as the 39th (The Garhwal) Regiment of Bengal Light Infantry. The official title of ‘Rifles’ was received in 1892. The ‘Phoenix’ badge was later dropped, and the Maltese Cross which was in use by the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) was adopted. The regiment fought in both World Wars as well as in the inter-war period and post independence.

This helmet is in fact black and having six seams and no provision for a normal Home Service Helmet quatrefoil mounting for that helmet’s finial can be safely said to be a Foreign Service Helmet. Indeed, given the almost vertical angle of the front peak it could well be an example of the “Smart” helmet mentioned in the 1900 Dress Regulations (see here).

The above two images comparing the black helmet to a more standard Foreign Service Helmet. (the black helmet’s hatband has been added recently).

Jones & Co’s catalogue of 1886 has a note that Rifle Regiments could have their Colonial pattern sun helmets covered with black cloth rather than the more usual white and this seems to be the case here.  And is fully illustrated by this photo of a helmet to a Bugler of the Cameronians c1903.

The label inside of the helmet reads Cardew 39 Gharwal Rifles. The other letters and numbers I cannot decipher. Henry Spencer Cardew was –

• Commissioned as 2^nd Lt in 1903 – The East Surrey Regiment, Henry Spencer Cardew
• 9^th January, 1906 – Promoted ^– The East Surrey Regiment, Second Lieutenant H. S. Cardew to be Lieutenant, vice. S Fuller, seconded.
• 28^th October, 1906, but to rank from 10th January, 1906 – Second Lieutenant Henry Spencer Cardew, 1^st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, from the East Surrey Regiment.
• 2^nd May 1912 – Promoted Captain
• 9^th April 1915 – Assistant Director of Army Signals.
• July 1916 – Mentioned in Despatches
• October 1916 – awarded the Military Cross
• October 10 1918 – Promoted Major
• Awarded Croix de Guerre 1922 – Major Henry Spencer Cardew, M.C., 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army. 

The pencil marks predating the gummed label also appear to say “7 full”.

The helmet plate cannot be readily discerned from what is left of its fixing but could have been of this type with the usual Maltese Cross for Rifle Regiments.-

Another interesting feature of this helmet is the metal loop to the rear of the helmet. It has been suggested that this was for hanging the helmet on a peg or some such when not in use. And appears to perforate the shell under the hatband.

This photo is of the officers of the 39th Garwhal Rifles taken in Delhi 1911. Note the helmets are Wolseleys but black.

^{Stuart Bates and Steve Saunders}

^{August 2019}