Wolseley Pattern Foreign Service Helmet

[Peter_Suciu]

Here is one of my new additions. A Wolseley Pattern Foreign Service Helmet.

These were commonly called the topi. This helmet example features the patch of the Lancashire Fusiliers, which fought at Gallipoli in 1915.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Nice lid, makes me want to break out the pipe, pink Gin... and go shoot a tiger ... ;-)

[Stuart Bates]

Here is one of my Wolseleys. It is named to Lt H.A.C. Stallan of the Royal Corps of Signals. He was commissioned in 1926.

[Stuart Bates]

Here is a photo of 3 signallers of the 2nd Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment in Macedonia 1916-1918

Photo courtesy of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Edited February 25, 2007 by Stuart Bates

[Chris Boonzaier]

Peters and the ones in the period photo seem to have a slight point at the front, whereas the signal one does not? Is it a private purchase one?

Can we see the insides of these?

Thanks

Chris

[Stuart Bates]

Hello Chris,

you are correct my Signal Corps does have a more rounded front. This would be due to manufacturer's variations which we see in all styles of British helmets of this type ie. cork or pith. The photo is not very good but does illustrate your point (no pun? you bet). I am just getting ready for a street party and am in a rush so hope it suffices. And yes it is a private purchase helmet.

Stuart

Edited February 23, 2007 by Stuart Bates

[leigh kitchen]

Here is one of my new additions. A Wolseley Pattern Foreign Service Helmet.

These were commonly called the topi. This helmet example features the patch of the Lancashire Fusiliers, which fought at Gallipoli in 1915.

The cloth insignia was a cut down shoulderstrap from unservicable tunics, the LF used also this insignia as a beret badge with their primrose hackle in the 1950's, tho' I don't know if the beret badge was a cut down strap or purpose made embroidered nsignia (I still need one for my collection).

[Stuart Bates]

I almost forgot that I had this Australian Infantry post 1953 Wolseley but here it is.

Edited April 6, 2007 by Stuart Bates

[Stuart Bates]

I couldn't leave out my Northumberland Fusiliers Wolseley. Note the red stripes which form the top of the puggaree.

[Peter_Suciu]

Congrats on another great helmet.

Here is the Royal Navy Wolseley I picked up recently as well:

[Stuart Bates]

How about an interior shot Peter?

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Here is the interior of my Australian Wolseley. Note the leather strips which form the ventilation spacers around the headband.

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Ok just came into possession of 4 lovely Wolseleys. The first one was described as belonging to the 14th Hussars and has a faint maker's stamp to the interior. I can't make out the name but there is a date of 1925.

Now according to the 1934 DRs the 14th/20th Hussars had a white plume and the 8th Hussars had a white over red. These DRs specify "no badges, plumes, hackles etc" for khaki helmets with a few noted exceptions. However, I have an illustration of a trooper of the 1st KDGs with a red hackle in his helmet's puggaree. Can anybody add to this?

Oh, a really interesting feature of this helmet is that the leather chinstrap goes over the top of the helmet and under the puggaree thence into the interior. It does have internal hooks!

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Next one is to the Essex regiment, nicknamed the Purple Pompadours. It has a name written to the interior of J Hichings or Wichings, 6010194, H.Q.Wing. I will have to research this.

It is quite the largest Wolseley I have ever seen.

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Next one is to the Middlesex Regiment and has the flash with a regimental badge. It was made by Percy Ayers & Co of London and has the ink name Gell D. Coy 6193753 inside. More research.

Stuart

Edited April 30, 2007 by Stuart Bates

[Stuart Bates]

Ok last one of this lot to the Sherwood Foresters. It has two dates to the interior 1932 and 1939. It also has the names of presumably all of the stations where the owner served eg. Dehli, Bombay, Karachi, Berber, Khartoum, Sudan, Atbara and more.

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Here is the interior of the Sherwood Foresters helmet.

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Here is my latest Wolseley. It is to the Scots Guards and belonged to Sergeant James Lamb who served from the 1930s through the 1940s. It has a photograph of the owner which I am yet to receive but will post when I do.

Stuart

[Stuart Bates]

Side view showing flash which is repeated to the other side.

[Stuart Bates]

This one has a topic of its own but for completeness sake I add it here. I think it may belong to the East Surrey Regiment but have yet to verify that. Anybody any ideas?

[Stuart Bates]

I'm just about Wolseleyed out now, but would like a Royal Navy one. Back to my main interest of 19th century British I think.

Stuart

[leigh kitchen]

This one has a topic of its own but for completeness sake I add it here. I think it may belong to the East Surrey Regiment but have yet to verify that. Anybody any ideas?

The Buff's stable belt was blue with a central buff stripe, wonder if there's a connection (suddenly what I thought was white in the photo now looks buff).t.

[Stuart Bates]

Leigh,

there is an inked name to the interior of S. Pellett. I looked up the UK Archives and found an Ernest S. Pellett of the East Surrey Regiment. I emailed the Surrey research people (with a photo and without) but both were rejected - damned if I know why.

Stuart

[servicepub]

Although this thread started in the "Cawnpores and Bombay Bowlers" thread, as a Wolseley, it is more appropriate here.

This Wolseley was the property of an offficer in the 2nd Battalion, Governor General's Foot Guards. It displays a red hackle - better termed a plume in keeping with Guards' terminology. The plume is worn on the left side which is consistent with GGFG practice (although allied with the Coldstream Guards there are some minor differences. In this case the GGFG is the senior Foot Guard Regiment and the plume is worn on the left even though the buttons are worn paired.) The second photo shows (left side) a GGFG Major (note paired buttons, six-pointed stars on collar and patch (unpleated) pockets.) He wears a Hawley Sun Helmet of a pattern issued to the troops but with the addition of a cloth pugarree and, just visible, the red plume on the left side.

Clive

[Stuart Bates]

Here is my latest acquisition, a Wolseley to the Royal Corps of Signals but it was sourced in Canada and could be Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (thanks Clive for the confusion ). Note that the flash has been affixed back-to-front as the light blue should be to the front.

Clive, the Governor General's Foot Guards is a beauty but any information on the Hawley pattern as I have never heard of it before?

Stuart