Category Archives: World War II

The Italian Tropical Tarbusc

The standard Italian “Tarbush” (Collection of Piero Pompili)

The “tarbusc,” from the Persian Sarpush (headdress) is a hat similar to fez, a truncated cone shape, and was typical of the indigenous Italian troops in Eritrea and later AOI (Italian East Africa).

It was “inherited” by Egyptian troops stationed at Massawa, at the time of the first Italian occupation in 1885. The original version of the headdress was used by the irregular soldier of the Ottoman army, the Bashi Bazuk (“Mad Heads”) and was red with a black bow. Continue reading →

Straw and Wicker Helmets

A German World War II sun helmet.

This was the standard pattern used by the Afrika Korp. While most of these were made of cork, there are many examples that were apparently made of weaved straw with wicker support. This example, while in bad condition offers an excellent look at the “inside” of the helmet

While sola pith and cork are among the most commonly used materials in the construction of sun helmets, straw weave and wicker were used at times as an ersatz material, especially in wartime. We previously noted two examples of British-made Wolseley straw helmets in the collection of Stuart Bates. While these are the only two known surviving examples of British straw helmets of this pattern, there are many surviving examples of straw helmets from other countries.

How many of these helmets were produced remains a mystery, but surviving examples given an indication that serious craftsmanship went into their construction. Continue reading →

Hat, Pith, Khaki, Solar

This Khaki Solar Pith Hat is dated 1937 and attributed to Lt. G. C. Moor R.A. It was manufactured by the Peninsular Hat Company of Calcutta. (Author’s collection)

The Khaki Solar Pith Hat was the British Army designation of this civilian sola topee which was used in a semi-official capacity in India and Burma probably from the late 1890s. It lasted, in army use, at least until the end of the Second World War. Continue reading →

USMC Pressed Fiber Helmet – Training Helmet and More

A color photo showing US Marines training while wearing the pressed fiber sun helmet

When the helmet of the United States Marine Corp in World War II is discussed it is likely the M1 steel helmet with the famous herringbone twill cover. But in fact this wasn’t the only helmet used by the USMC. Continue reading →

Czech Sun Helmets

Czech Sola Pith Helmets of WWII at the Prague Military Museum

It is a strange thing to consider that the landlocked Central European nation of Czechoslovakia (today the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic) would ever have a need for sun helmets. While the traditional Czech police helmets used in Prague and other cities were made of a pressed fiber material, and even resemble sun helmets, protection from the sun was not the primary purpose.

And despite this fact, there are examples of Czech used sun helmets – notably those used by the Free Czech Forces that fought with the Allies in North Africa and served in garrison duty roles in Palestine. Photos suggest that the Khaki Sola Pith pattern was the most commonly used pattern – often with the tri-color Czech flag attached to the left side. Continue reading →

Sun Helmets of the Philippine Commonwealth Army

One somewhat forgotten sun helmet pattern was that used by the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Issued just months before America’s entry into the Second World War, these seemed based on the pressed fiber helmets used by the United States but offered a larger rear brim. And instead of pressed fiber these were made of pressed coconut fiber!

Reportedly used an a substitute for the campaign or “Montana Peak” hat, these were widely used during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

Peter Suciu

Military Sun Helmets

Military sun helmets of the world.