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

Well I have received the helmet and on the inside is an inked name of S. Pellett which I looked up on the National Archives. I received one hit for an Ernest S. Pellett of the East Surrey Regiment. Can anybody verify that this was the regiment for the helmet? Stuart

I haven't received the helmet yet but the seller, a friend in London, informs me that it has the look and feel of a Great War example. If so this takes out the Signals who introduced the stripes in 1937. Stuart

Leigh, going through my signallers book I came across a statement that in foreign service stations 1920-1924, Officers and soldiers wore a 2 or 3" square patch of white and blue on the left side of the "sola topi". It doesn't say whether it was a light or dark blue. This patch was changed to green, dark blue and light blue arranged horizontally in 1924 and then changed again to a vertical arrangement in 1934 as shown in my RCS Wolseley already posted here. It also says that in 1937 piping was introduced which consisted of the Corps colours running around the top of the puggaree - light blue top, dark blue centre and green at the bottom. It does add that piping was taken into use by some Signals units in India prior to the official introduction, so who knows what colours were used. A blue and white armlet was used during the period 1920-1939 and I have a photo which shows them being worn and I would say they are white over light blue. This all seems to indicate that my helmet could be an unofficial variation of a Royal Signals but it's only an assumption at the moment. Let's hope some more information comes to light. Stuart

Ed, there is a lot of interest in the Indian Army, rest assured. I am currently editing and proof reading an upcoming book on the sun helmets of the army. Good luck with your digging. Stuart

Hi Leigh, it can't be just a guess so what information do you have? My Royal Corps of Signals has a flash of light blue, dark blue and green. I have a nice little book entitled "Headdress, Badges and Embellishments of the Royal Corps of Signals", it's a pity that there doesn't seem to be such books for other units. Stuart

Can anyone identify the unit to which this Wolseley helmet belonged? Thanks, Stuart

Here is the interior of the Sherwood Foresters helmet. Stuart

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

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

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

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

Leigh, the 1st DGs had a red plume (white for trumpeters) so is the apparent black simply due to the photographic process? Stuart

Leigh, without a date in the helmet all I can say is that it is post 1953 at the moment. I will check out the badge to find out for what period it was in use but that won't be definitive either. There is a makers stamp of Hobson & Sons and a stamp stating "Vero's Detachable & Self Conforming Head Band, Royal Letters Patent No. 228457" but I haven't followed these up. I bought this one in the very early days of collecting and mostly forgot that I had it. It might be worthwhile, for me, to try to track it down further. Stuart

I should add that there was a substantial market in second hand officers' equipment as not all young officers were that well off to enable them to purchase new. Stuart

Jerome has just pointed out that technically the NSW helmet is British, Australia not being a country until federation in 1901. Stuart

Tony, some lovely photos. Aaahh, they knew how to dress in those days. Stuart

Hi Jerome, thanks very much for that and I've asked the author to respond directly as he has joined the forum. Two Jeromes now that is a little confusing! I did visit http://www.military-photos.com/ which is where I got Discours from. I wasn't sure about it until I found a reference to a Gilbert Discours. My French is too rusty and Discours seemed too much like the English word discourse! But it was capitalized. Let me know what attribution you want, via a PM if you prefer. Thanks again, Stuart

J?r?me, the author wants to use the photos of the Crocodile and Serapis in his book. Is this possible? If so what attribution would you require eg. Photo courtesy J?r?me Discours. He also asks 'Other ships of note are; the "Egypt", "Jumna", and all ending in "Castle", like the "Braemar Castle".' Do you have any of these? Thanks, Stuart PS. Everybody please keep the photos coming

Post away Tony! BTW to what unit does the soldier in your avatar belong? Stuart

OK Jerome, you got me! Thanks, Stuart

Hi Jerome, yes I saw these photos. Beauties aren't they. However, we want photos of troops wearing pith helmets onboard or embarking/disembarking etc. Thanks anyway. Stuart

Michael, yes I've seen photos of these. I think they actually made them for children (rich ones) and drummer boys would have to have been accommodated. Stuart

Michael, post away. The author will decide so let's have a look. Stuart

Leigh, if they are wearing pith helmets the photos could be just the ticket. Stuart