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

Seems that the Canadians and Brits have taken better care of their heritage than the Aussies. I found 6 Wolseley pattern helmets and 1 Colonial pattern helmet on the Australian War Memorial site. I will ask a dealer/friend if there are any comparable regimental museums. Stuart

Hi Graham, correct on the Black Watch. The Coldstream Guards wear their hackle on the right because they formed line to the left of the monarch whilst the Grenadier Guards wear theirs on the left as the formed line to the right of the monarch (thanks Chris). Stuart PS. Not getting much in the way of Cawnpores and Bombay Bowlers

Clive, Chris is going to wade in with his beautiful Coldstream Guards Wolseley with badge and red hackle. He is having trouble posting it so I will talk him through the process later today. But we had better continue this subject in the Wolseley Topic. Stuart

Did you notice that the flash is on back to front? I had the seller look at the reverse of the 'white/cream' section and she responded with Light Blue - so bingo RCS. She also inspected it closely for me and confirmed that it was tucked into the puggaree and secured with pins. I knew it was Signals but sought confirmation anyway. Actually it is coming down the driveway now! Apart from its being sold out of Canada how do you know that it is of Canadian origin? Stuart

The reference book for Australia is DISTINGUISHING COLOUR PATCHES of the AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES 1915 - 1951 by Keith Glyde and you can source it easily from http://www.jbma.com.au/reference-books/default.aspx As you will have gathered from this topic and others there is no definitive work on British flashes. You would be surprised as to how little militaria, at least in the way of helmets, has survived here in Australia. In my collection, admittedly British 'only', I only have 2 Australian helmets. The Imperial Camel Corps (and I guess that you know this) were formed from British, Australian and New Zealand units with the bulk being Australian. This site is a good one for badges, flashes &c http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pages-top...x.htm#all-sites Stuart PS. Exactly what helmet do you have?

TS, sorry about the .co.uk, on all of the sites I mentioned, you are quite right. A Wolseley in good condition can cost anything from US$150 to US$750 depending on whether they come from eBay, a dealer or a friend/forum member/collector. You can find them cheaper but the condition is normally not so good or they may have badges, spikes etc which just are not correct. This is the link to the one I got this week http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=010 unfortunately it is costing US$52 for expedited delivery. One to the Camel Corps will be extremely difficult to locate and since the units of this corps were drawn from many British regular and Australian regiments I'm not sure that there would be a distinct badge. I do know that there was an unofficial Rising Sun badge with a camel on it for an Anzac unit. A Wolseley with a flash is always going to be more desirable and, therefore, more expensive than one without. If your helmet is not a Wolseley what is it? Will you not post a photo to this topic? Stuart

TS, I just this week got a real beauty of a Wolseley to the Royal Corps of Signals on eBay and they are frequently to be found there. I have sourced my Wolseleys from dealers, eBay and fellow collectors. There is a Naval Wolseley on www.MilitaryAntiques.com. You can also ask dealers to keep and eye out for you but you will pay top dollar. Check www.regimentals.com and www.blunderbuss-antiques.com from time to time or simply email them expressing your interest. They may even be offered for sale on this forum so check out that section. Have you checked out the topic dedicated to Wolseleys? Will you post your Wolseley in the dedicated topic? I am assuming that you have a Wolseley and not a Cawnpore or Bombay Bowler as if one of the latter then please post a photo in this topic. Stuart

Well as we expected it is of the Royal Corps of Signals. The seller told me that the flash was indeed tucked into the puggaree and on inspecting the reverse of the 'white' section told me that it was light blue in colour. I won it today on eBay for a song so will post it in the relevant section when I have it. Stuart

Some more information on the RTR and Amoured Car units. "In 1920, twelve Armoured Car Companies were set up as part of the Tank Corps, absorbing units from the Machine Gun Corps and in 1923 it was officially named Royal (making it the Royal Tank Corps) by Colonel-in-Chief King George V." The colours of brown/red/green are interesting - "The official regimental motto is Fear Naught while the unofficial motto (signified also by the colours of the tactical recognition flash) is "From Mud, Through Blood to the Green Fields Beyond." Stuart

My contact at Bovington told me: 'However, with regard to the RTR and RAC we do use a privately published cd "Tanks Again" by Peter Payne (who is ex RTR and someone who has been an avid collector of RTR uniforms, equipment, memorabilia for years) as a comprehensive reference source.' I will post details on how to source this CD when I get them. Stuart

Here is the reply that I got from the Tank Museum, Bovington: Thank you for your enquiry. The Topee Flash which is attached to your Khaki (Wolseley) Helmet, more commonly known as the Pith Helmet, would appear to be correct. Unfortunately, we do not have an exact reference to work from but the red/yellow colour Flash combination would only have appeared when the Royal Armoured Corps was formed in 1939. I would think that the RTC Centre and Schools would have had had the red/green flash as opposed to the brown/red/green flash to differentiate them from the Armoured Car Companies. The Topee Flashes worn by the Armoured Car units would have had the RTC/RTR colour flash (brown, green and red) and would have contained numerals or letters on the red field. The RTC Centre and Schools would have worn the topee flash (without numerals or letters) on the left side of the helmet and would not have exceeded 3 x 2 inches as stated in Indian Army Order 558 of 1925. So that is a good result for us all. It is however not a Wolseley Stuart

Well if the "white" is a very faded light blue then the colours would be for the Royal Corps of Signals. An RCS memo of 1934 stated that the flash would have the colours vertically placed and from the front of the helmet light blue, dark blue and green with the flash tucked into the 4th fold from the top. In this example for it to be RCS, the flash would have had to be attached back-to-front as the 'white' or 'light blue' is not to the front of the helmet. Stuart

The colours of the Royal Armoured Corps were red and yellow so that explains Leigh's question. Looking at my Australian book on flashes, Light Horse Regiments were converted to mechanised units and one, the 6th L.H. became the 6th Australian Armoured Car Regiment (shown as such in the Order of Battle, October 1942) whose flash was red and green. Stuart

Graham, are you familiar with Uniforms of the Royal Armoured Corps by Michael Dawson and, if so, would you recommend it? I presume that you would recommend Brian Davis' book. Talk about opening a Pandora's box of worms! Stuart

Graham, you can guess where I sourced the helmet and that was the description that came with it. I knew that the RAC was formed in 1939 with the RTC becoming a component but essentially, I did not attempt to check partly because I know that information on flashes is so difficult to come by - especially here in Oz. The ACIs and AOs would be most welcome. Stuart P.S. I emailed Bovington with a photo and am waiting for a response.

Graham, I will try Bovington but would not the School be distinguished from the Armoured Car units in the field? This area is new to me so I will have to do some research. I hope Leigh clarifies the red/yellow flash. Stuart

Hi Leigh, no is the simple answer. I got this one from a friend/collector in London. I will ask him when he is online again (changed ISP). Can you recommend reference material for flashes? I received today a book on Australian flashes even though that is not a real area of interest for me. Is there a British one? Stuart

The interior. Anybody got more helmets to show?

The rear view.

I have strayed well passed my cutoff date of 1914 with my foray into Wolseleys and now I have a Cawnpore Tent Club helmet so thought I would start a topic on these pith helmets. This one is of the Royal Armoured Car School and is dated 1927.

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

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

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?

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