Home Service Helmet Chinchains

[Stuart Bates]

Need some help on this one.

The Dress Regs for 1883, 1891, 1894 and 1900* all state that the chinchain for the Home Service Helmet was of links 5/8" wide and the strap lined with patent leather, backed with black velvet (officers only). In discussions with collector/friends and dealers it seems that 3/4" links are at least as common as the prescribed 5/8". The same is also true of the Foreign Service helmet with some being fitted with 1" wide chains and even one example with a Guards Bearskin chinchain.

My own collection, and those of friends, contain both widths of chinchain. I can find no regulations to support the 3/4" but the Victorian/Edwardian army was notorious for ignoring dress regulations, especially on active service.

* It is interesting to note that the 1900 DRs specify 3/8" for the Foreign Service Helmet but this is obviously a mistake. The DRs of 1904, 1911 specify 5/8" as did those preceding.

Anyone any ideas?

Stuart

Edited January 29, 2007 by Stuart Bates