Italy - 1928 model Sun Helmet

[Peter_Suciu]

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.

[Guest Rick Research]

It's remarkably difficult to find the feathers still attached. :cheers:

[Peter_Suciu]

It's remarkably difficult to find the feathers still attached.

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

[Guest Rick Research]

Nicea bigga bullsayea righta inna middlea. :rolleyes:

[JimZ]

"Coraggio fuggiamo" .... and the Bersaglieri would do it at a trot!

Badge looks rather shiny no? Got a close up pls?

Edited August 24, 2008 by JimZ

[Peter_Suciu]

Badge looks rather shiny no? Got a close up pls?

The helmet was originally photographed with a bit of sun in the sky and that may have made it look shinny. Here is a better close up.

[the doctor]

"Coraggio fuggiamo" .... and the Bersaglieri would do it at a trot!

funny, moreover when said from a pope guard

[leigh kitchen]

Nice, I narrowly missed out on one of their black bowlers a few years ago, impressive headgear.

[lilo]

"Coraggio fuggiamo" .... and the Bersaglieri would do it at a trot!

What do you want to mean with this affirmation ? May be that the Bersaglieri are a group of Cowards ??

Let me know so that I can propely answer your st...d comment !

Edited December 10, 2008 by lilo

[JimZ]

Dear Lilo,

It is simply a combination of the fact that the Bersaglieri tend to trot/jog rather than march coupled with an older saying frequently applied by the allies to the Italians in WW2 - "Coraggio Fuggiamo". There was no more to the comment than some light humour intent based on the above two points and no offence was meant . I hope that this clarifies.

I have no intention of entering into the argument of Italian courage during the war - Like many others, such an exercise would be futile and I prefer to let history be the judge.

Regards,

Jim

[Guest Rick Research]

Grow up.

I suspect that these, like the German sun helmets that appeared from a never issued German horde in 1968-69, were probably warehoused somewhere en masse.

I can't recall ever seeing photos of these in wear during the North African fighting-- not even with the insignia removed. The completeness of this one, feathers and all, suggests it was considered part of tropical full dress and wouldn't have been the sort of thing the battalion luggage handlers dragged around in the field.

Anybody seen photos of these actually being worn from 1941-43? :beer: