The Pith Helmet.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

The pith helmet (also known as the safari helmet, sun helmet, topee, sola topee, salacot or topi is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of cork or pith (typically pith from the sola Indian swamp growth, Aeschynomene aspera; or A. paludosa, or a similar plant). Designed to shade the wearer's head and face from the sun, pith helmets were once often worn by Westerners in the tropics, but have also been used in other contexts.

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Colonial period

This form of headdress is now associated strongly with the British Empire. However, the pith helmet was used by all European and colonial powers, and by the United States Army during the 1880s,in the Southwest United States.

It was commonly worn by white officers commanding locally recruited soldiers in the colonial troops of France, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Imperial Germany and the Netherlands, as well as civilian officials in their tropical territories. White troops serving in the tropics usually wore pith helmets, although on active service they were sometimes replaced by more comfortable and less conspicuous alternatives such as the wide brimmed slouch hats worn by US troops in the Philippines and by British Empire forces in the later stages of the Boer War.

Guest

We often see British service helmets with and without a regimental badge attached.

Having seen the reverse of a 24th ROF badge it has two eyeloops with a split pin inserted between the loops. How then is the badge actually attached to the helmet? Is the pin inserted through the cloth? or is it mounted from the inside of the helmet?.

Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK

hi GONER
firstly welcome to the forum i hope you enjoy it

on my pith helmet i own the badge is simply held on with 2 5mm screws going through into the actual pith/cork of the helmet

hope this helps

thanks joe

Guest

Attaching a regt. helmet badge with screws makes sense. The 24th badge I saw was a reproduction so I wonder if this was just a 'modern' non authentic means to attach the device. Speaking of 24th helmet badges what is the proper postion location on the helmet front? How far from the brim or crown should it be postioned along the center?

Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK

hi
i dont know the correct positioning for a badge.
as you can see in lots of different helemets there is alot od different badge shape and sizes
i would presume its is just above the band, probably in the center, running around it like in this image here [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
although i may be wrong

hope this helps

thanks joe

Posts : 5 Join date : 2010-10-02

Interesting,

So would the helemts worn during the Zulu war actually be white or khaki? Also would they have worn the cap badge on the front as per the Zulu film?

I am thinking of getting one from International Military Antiques as a display item for my study.

What one should I go for?

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:54 pm

They were white when issued, but the troops used Mud & Coffee-Tea to stain them.

Subject: pith helmet Mon Oct 18, 2010 12:12 am

Hi Lasallian.
The majority of the badges werent worn on the helmets in Sth Africa , some helmet plates have been found at Isandlwana .
So some did wear them , but the greater majority didnt.
cheers 90th.

Posts : 5 Join date : 2010-10-02

Thank you Gents,

I think I will go for the helmet plate, it does look nice. Also obviously looks like the ones in the film, which kicked it all off for me.

I will probably put it next to my British Infantry stovepipe shako.

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:25 am

As I understand it all the units wore the covering white and with the badge attached when in garrison, but on service in the field the men removed the badges and stained the covering - the officers continuing to wear them with white coverings and the badges attached.

Whichever, every man of the 24th would still have had his Kepi-badge in his kit a the Isandlwana camp...

Aidan

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:44 pm

Another bit of info on the Foreign Service Helmet.....The1stLt

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Posts : 4 Join date : 2011-04-21

One of the images in this thread appears to have four cloth panels, the other six. Anyone know the explanation for this? Is the four panel example an inaccurate reproduction?

Thanks,

Steve

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Tue May 17, 2011 9:27 pm

The four panel versions were worn during the Zulu War.
There is also a Six panel version named after M/Gen. Sir Garnet Wolseley, who developed the original pattern.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2011-04-21

Thanks, Littlehand. Do you have a source for this, by chance?

Thanks,

Steve

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Wed May 18, 2011 8:15 pm

I knew you would ask that. I didn't take note. Hopefully it will be in my browsing history. If I find it I will post the link. Idea

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Wed May 18, 2011 8:19 pm

Myness. Sorry mate. It's one of these.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=M/Gen.+Sir+Garnet+Wolseley,+who+developed+the+original+pattern.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-06-17

Hi. I think there might be a little confusion over this. As far as I'm aware the British Foreign Service helmet was invariably six panel construction. That applied to the Wolseley as well. The American Indian Wars helmet was four. However the British khaki helmet covers that were used on occasion were often four panel. Happy to be corrected if anyone has other information!!! Best Wishes Neil

Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-06-17

Hi. I was wrong on this one - four panel British foreign service helmets were issued as well as the six panel version. You live and learn! Neil

Subject: Re: The Pith Helmet. Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:33 pm

Hi thanks for clearing that up. We all live a learn.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2010-12-13

Hi ,

the pith helmet is used too for the spanish troops in Afrika War ((Marrocco) in 1912 . The spanih govern buy tihis helmet model in Gibraltar . The spanish uniform ware sand (similar british war boer and denomed "garbanzo" colour) .

i have problem for the my pics , sorry .

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Subject: The Pith Helmet Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:50 am

Hi Alberto .
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your pictures .
Cheers 90th. Salute

Posts : 4 Join date : 2010-12-13

Thank you 90 th .

This helmet is used too in pre-war hispan.american 1898 for the artillerie and the Guardia Civil in Puerto Rico with the "Rayadillo" uniform.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f30/17/80/22/47/ch-20118.jpg

This pic is in Valencia Military Museum (Spain) of my Reenactment group in the event "Museo Vivo IV Edicion"

Here another pic with afrikan uniform

https://i.servimg.com/u/f30/17/80/22/47/295a2k10.jpg

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