Category Archives: India

The Original Camouflage: Khaki Part I – The Origins and Use in the British Army

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The late 19th century saw the era of “Red Coats” pass as British soldiers on campaign donned khaki – which was soon to become the first true universal camouflage

Today camouflage has gone high-tech, with digicam or “digital camouflage” being the preferred pattern. This utilizes small micro-patterns as the method for effective disruption, as opposed to the large blotches of cover, which could be easier to spot with the naked eye. This is of course leaps and bounds over the earliest camouflage, which consisted of solid patterns. Among the earliest was khaki. While known for the casual pants, khaki has a long history as the first widespread military camouflage.

This is part I of a multiple part series on the origins and development of “the Original Camouflage.” Continue reading →

British Experimental Helmets and Others

1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment c1892 wearing experimental helmets developed in the late 1880s. (Photo courtesy Michael Barthorp)

1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment c1892 wearing experimental helmets developed in the late 1880s. (Photo courtesy Michael Barthorp)

Since being introduced into the British Army in the late 1870s several problems with the Colonial pattern helmet prompted a search for a replacement. Those problems were; the rear of the helmet forcing the front peak down thereby making firing a rifle in the prone position difficult, and the lack of sun protection to the temples. There are many period photographs showing the helmets being worn back to front to provide better sun protection to the eyes although, therefore, exposing the neck. Continue reading →

The British Four Panel Colonial Helmet

An example of a Colonial Pattern helmet with four panels rather than the more usual and authorized six panels. This example is to an Other Rank of the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey). (Photo courtesy Roland Gruschka)

An example of a Colonial Pattern helmet with four panels rather than the more usual and authorized six panels. This example is to an Other Rank of the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey). (Photo courtesy Roland Gruschka)

The 1st Battalion West Surrey was stationed in Malta in 1892 and it appears that this type of helmet was not uncommon in Mediterranean stations for the British Army. However, the Dress Regulations of 1894 state that puggarees were to be worn in such stations as India, Bermuda, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Egypt, the Straits Settlements, West Indies, Mauritius, Malta, West Coast of Africa and Cyprus and that the full Home Service pattern helmet plate was to be worn at other stations, i.e. those where the puggaree was not authorized. There was a term “Mediterranean Order” which translated to no puggaree but full helmet plate and it appears that the cork ventilation was also a feature of this “order.” In 1899 puggarees were authorised for all stations abroad. Continue reading →

Henry James Frampton, CSI, CIE, MC, ICS

The Collector, Madras Presidency, c1905. 1

The Collector, Madras Presidency, c1905. 1

Henry James Frampton was born in August 1897, at South Stoneham, Hampshire, first son of Henry Manwell Frampton (plasterer) and Mary Frampton. He served with distinction in the First World War and joined the Indian Civil Service (I.C.S.) in 1921. Continue reading →

Sun Helmets on Safari

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In my world, the pith is not a sun helmet, but a crown.
And, to the wearers I study, the coronation is justified.

For just over a year I have been a staunch collector of not sun helmets, like my dear friend Stuart – although I dream of graduating to such an assemblage – but antique safari and big game hunting photographs, none of which are complete without firearm, fauna, and of course, the very symbol of adventure, the pith helmet. Continue reading →

Sun Helmets and Comic Books

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Comic books today typically feature brooding superheroes and twisted villains bent on world domination. The days of more life-like comics are certainly a thing of the past. However, during the “Golden Age of Comic Books,” which lasted from the late 1930s to the early 1950s there were actually some comics that offered realistic settings. While not actually common, there were books – such as the above The New Two-Fisted Tales – that even featured a sun helmet or two. Continue reading →