Stuart Bates

I forgot to say that the Cawnpore was made popular among Staff Officers and others during the Prince of Wales' visit to India in 1875-6. Never heard of it, eh? See page 8 of Military Sun Helmets Stuart

This is a Cawnpore Tent Club Hat and looks to be in unworn condition. They were used by both civilians and the Military for perhaps 70 to 80 years and were manufactured in both India and England. They supplemented the Colonial pattern and then the Wolseley for occasions when the full dress helmet was not worn. The Wolseley and the Cawnpore were finally replaced by the Khaki Solar Pith Hat in 1938 (ACI 284) for officers. Other Ranks had been wearing the KSPH since the early 1930s. There really is nothing to suggest that this example is military. I suppose that the puggaree being slightly turned inwards could suggest that a slider badge was worn but that is a giant leap of faith. Both because sliders were worn in the V at the front of the puggaree and should not have turned the top fold inwards. There does not appear to be any holes or stitching marks where a badge or flash would have been affixed. I do not see any outline of a badge either i.e. the puggaree seems a uniform colour and condition where a badge would have been rather than being a lighter shade caused by dust and possibly sun-bleaching. I would say that it is civilian but never worn. I would have expected a maker's mark to the interior. Still a beautiful example. Stuart

Nice try Leigh, but helmets (with or without badges) is what I do best. Stuart

I forgot to add that the others have a pennant flourish to the scrolls.

I am no expert on anything, but I would say that this badge looks like a barrel on legs. Compared to the others that you have posted I would say a fake! Stuart

My understanding is that some badges perforated the helmet shell and others slid between the shell and the puggaree. I have no idea why one was chosen over the other. From the examples you posted even to the untrained eye the differences are quite marked.

Looking at those sliders again I was astonished at the number of variations. This might seem like a silly question but I take it that there was no sealed pattern? I only glean stuff about such things through the forum. Maybe I should read the Introductions to some of my badge books You are not throwing out good reference books are you, Leigh?

Centre front was where the slider puggaree badge was supposed to be worn. In the V of the puggaree. Stuart

Mervyn, it is unlikely that the regiment would have had the badge in 1882 as it took a while for the new patterns to filter through. Anyway it was very uncommon for the helmet plate to be worn on the Foreign Service Helmet but nothing is impossible. The 1st battalion Warwicks were in England 1881-85 and the 2nd Battalion in India 1881-96. It would not have been worn during the 2nd Boer War. And I think you mean the Cardwell Reforms Leigh, some lovely pugaree slider cap badges you have there. Stuart

Mervyn, that Ordnance Corps is among my top Blue Cloths so you will understand my earlier comment about the furniture of such helmets. Stuart

I bought a repro in 1979 and then nothing until 1995. Big mistake as there was so much stuff around in those earlier times and at terrific prices. You say that the "patchwork" was private purchase for OR's. Why was that? I presumed that they would have been made from "time-expired" bearskins or racoon caps. That is down to a price. Stuart

Here is a photo of the "smart" helmet. It's the one on the right. Best I could do. Doesn't look at all comfortable!

The reverse angle of Paget's Horse which is of the style called "the 10th Hussars". It has a steeper front peak and rear brim than the regulation pattern but not as much as the "smart" helmet mentioned in the 1900 Dress Regulations.

Brian, glad you like the collection. I haven't been buying of late as I am having the electricity connected - I currently operate on solar and wind power only - and it is expensive! Major George Thomas Cavendish Paget (1853-1939) raised Paget's Horse, which formed the 19th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry, in March 1900. They served in the 2nd Boer War in the period 1900-1901. Here is my Paget's Horse Boer War helmet.

Leigh, no I don't have any Fusilier caps. I was tempted once but had gone off fur headgear about that time (and yes, I remember what you said about my going off things I do have 3 Hussar Busbies, a Scots Guards bearskin, a Tarleton and the 9th Regiment of Foot mitre cap. Luckily I don't have a problem with moths, silverfish etc. but generally the fur caps don't survive that well and top quality ones are quite expensive. Having said all of that there is a Dorset Yeomanry Tarleton that I would love to have but it is too expensive. Please expand on the patchwork construction of the "bearskins" or racoon caps as I haven't come across this before - any pics? Stuart

Dan, my favourite is still the Furness Yeomanry in the cavalry and Paget's Horse in the Boer War style. Stuart

It came with its khaki cover which I mounted on a repro that I bought back in 1979 -

Couldn't leave this Western Australian Boer War helmet out. It features the Guelphic Crown. Prince Albert was a German, and this crown is the crown of the Dukes of the House of Hanover.

As many of you will know I have been on a sun-helmet rampage so here is my latest Wolseley to the Duke of Wellington's Regiment -

I tend now to go for Corps rather than regular line regiments so here is my Army Ordnance Department BC

I love Blue Cloths and this one to the Army Service Corps with its enamelled badge is among my favourites

Hi Dan, my Tarleton is to the City of London Volunteers and is one of my favourite styles. I have seen a couple on Blunderbuss but very, very expensive. Stuart

Hi Leigh, the Yorkshire Hussars originally wore the Light Dragoon helmet i.e. the Tarleton, but changed to a shako in 1817. According to Carman the Busby was adopted in 1856 and was worn from then on. The Yorkshire Dragoons adopted a white metal helmet, of the 1871 pattern, in 1876 and it is interesting that it had the acanthus leaf plume holder, associated with the 1847 pattern helmet. The fluted plume holder came later. The 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry adopted the 1847 pattern helmet just before the Crimean War - I don't have a specific date. Carman's book on Yeomanry headdress has a photo of an East Riding tschapska that has a quite different plate to mine but then describes the lance plate that mine has. There is a lovely illustration of an officer of the East Riding Yeomanry in a book by R.G. Harris 50 Years of Yeomanry Uniforms. It also appears that the lance cap was worn only by officers and only from 1906- I have had a couple of big wins on eBay but also a couple of duds - one so bad that I sent it back. These days I have dealers (whom I trust) offer me stuff which often comes from their private collections. Never cheap but always of good quality. I know that you, and Graham, are keen on the Northumberland Fusiliers. If I see anything will let you know. Stuart

Dan, the helmet that I described as the West Riding is actually the East Riding of Yorkshire. As far as I can tell the West Riding had - The Yorkshire Hussars The Yorkshire Dragoons The 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry These all seem to have used the white rose in their helmet plates whereas the East Riding had a fox in full flight. Stuart