Peter_Suciu

If only I can find such a helmet! While British Officer blue cloth Home Service Helmets are easy to find the OR helmets are seldom out there. This is because the Officer helmets were private purchase while the OR helmets were government property and most were used until they fell apart. Many others were likely trashed. I'm lucky to have found the Artists' Rifles OR helmet. But that was a Volunteer unit so I beleive even the OR helmets were private purchase. I've never seen an Artists' Rifles helmet in a private collection either.

Here are some larger shots of the Gloucestershire helmet. I'm told some of my photos are too small.

This is the Glamorgan Imperial Yeomanry helmet. I've posted before, but this is by far my favorite helmet in my collection: And the original owner:

This is the Artists' Rifles Helmet

I had never known how the back badge fitted to the helmet either, and had previously purchased a Gloucestershire helmet, which I later returned to the seller. Stuart Bates and I contacted the Gloucestershire Regimental Museum and they provided a photo from their collection, which did show the badge mounted to the spine. It is interesting to note that both that example and mine have a slight bend in the spine... clearly it was designed to have something mounted to it! I have another example of a WWI era slider cap badge and the back badge has the west/east loop fittings. I will hold onto the tin for now, but I may end up donating it to the museum if/when I make it there. I have never been to Gloucestershire, but I hope to get to the Regimental Museum. The irony is that I bought the first helmet, and then read up on the history of the regiment. I've managed to find a few items related to the Glorious Gloucs as well, but I'm absolutely pleased to find this helmet. I also try to seek out items from the Artists Rifles and the Glamorgan Imperial Yeomanry. I have helmets from those regiments as well.

Well, the helmet was sold with a tin that says, "Major Brodigan, 28th Reg." But I have to take that with a grain of salt. The Regiment was the 28th North Gloucestershire until 1880, but the helmet has a post-1901 King's Crown. So that doesn't exactly add up. The tin might be worth something on its own, as Colonel Francis Brodigan served as the commanding officer at the time of the consolidation with the South Gloucestershire Regiment. I know that Colonel Brodigan had at least one son who served in the regiment, so I considered that the son might have used his father's tin, but that's doubtful. Franics John Brodigan reached the rank of Captain and was killed in action in May of 1915. So I doubt he'd use a tin that said, "Major Brodigan." Hence I have to assume the helmet and tin were "married" at some later date. Hence it might be hard to track the helmet to an original owner. There is no name inside.

I don't think this helmet saw much action. I wonder why?

This Italian Model 1928 sun helmet features the badge and feathers of the 8th Bersaglieri. In February 1941 the 8th Bersaglieri regiment landed at Tripoli and were incorporated into the Ariete Armoured Division. The XX Motorised Corps working in support of the 132nd Tank regiment were the most active and well known heavy armored unit in the Italian Army.

Another holy grail helmet for me. This is of the Gloucestershire Regiment. This is the only unit in the British Army (or maybe any army for that matter) that has the honor of wearing a badge to the back as well as front of cap/helmet. This was allowed following the 1801 Battle of the Nile, where the unit fought off French Infantry to the front and defended against French Cavalry to the rear.

I have an interest in sun helmets from around the world, and I know that the Spanish and Portuguese both used sun helmets. But I seldom ever see these come up for sale... and in fact have yet to see a real one up close. Were these just very rare, did few survive, what's the deal? :rolleyes:

Some of Saul David's books are very good. His book "Victoria's Wars" is very good, and only covers the era up to the death of Prince Albert. This is a good companion to David's "Indian Mutiny." I would also highly recommend Bruce Vandervort's "Wars of Imperial Conquest in Africa: 1830-1914" as this isn't limited to the British, but helps give an overview of the European mindset. Understanding the French, German, Italian, Belgian and Portuguese motives helps make the British rational a bit more clear.

Good stuff Clive! Great information. But alternatively Jeff could just display as is too? I know that the RMC wouldn't have likely worn the pugaree, but to me that would be a shame to remove it, in part because you might never be able to get it on quite as nicely. Very nice group!

It is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. But I would say that the helmets have really been on the rise in recent years. So well over $2000US anyway.

That late? Good to know. I knew it was a bit later in Canada!

Hi Jeff-- These helmets were worn with a Canadian militia plate, but I don't know how late these were used. This is the Foreign Service Helmet, which was first used in 1878. But these were mostly out of service in the British army by World War I. Officers worn these with a chinchain for dress, and there were simple leather straps for other times. You can generally find a chinchain on eBay, but this looks fine without it. Is there a maker label in the helmet? Very nice set. I would love to find a complete Canadian helmet with the militia plate. I've been looking high and low for one. PS

Ed-- I don't know what you mean by "had no use for..." because I don't believe that is the case. As Stuart mentioned there were most certainly NCOs from Europe in the Indian army. While it was uncommon attachments from one's regiment to another for special service was never unheard in the British military.

That's not uncommon, since the liners can be changed so easily. The shell could be WWII. From the photos the paint looks right, but I can't give a 100% on it without seeing it in the flesh. You have to keep in mind that many of the WWII shells were reused and repainted after the war. So the shell could date from WWII. It is just impossible to say without seeing the helmet in the flesh. But if the price is right what's the problem. It is certainly the "WWII style."

The chinstrap is wrong for an American helmet. This looks to have been replaced, or is the liner chinstrap looped through the steel helmet D-rings? The shell looks like it could be WWII. The paint was a bit different for Korea, but you'd have to see it in the flesh to make the call. Digital photography can alter the shade of the paint. The liner looks like a Westinghouse to me, but I'm not an expert on American liners. I do think it is late WWII American, but missing the canvas chinstrap.

Here is a recent addition. A Model 1880 pith helmet, likely used by the NY National Guard.

Any idea about this South African WWII sun helmet? This is dated 1942. I can't find much information on SA Divisions or Regiments, but I was told First or Second SA Division.

That should work! Thank you!

I urgently need a photo (high resolution) of a Victoria Cross. Does anyone have a high resolution photo that they could share with me for publication in a magazine. I can promise photo credit if that helps.

I am trying to help a friend identify this ribbon bar. As stated by my friend: It has 3 ribbons on it, the 1st is the World War 2 Victory Medal, the 2nd one I have no clue, and the 3rd is World War 1 Occupation Medal. I have looked everywhere and so far I have not been able to find out what the 2nd ribbon is. It is blue-white-red-white-red-white-blue

Any idea which regiment or other unit may have used this flash? This is on a Wolesley helmet. It appears Green/Blue/White.

A new addition to my pith helmet collection. This is a circa 1900 pith helmet from Argentina: