The fall of the Portuguese Monarchy, on October the 5^th 1910, brought about deep changes in Portuguese military uniforms. The very first measure, taken as early as October the 8^th, was the abolishment of the use of royal crowns on the uniforms. In most uniform items, the royal crowns could simply be disassembled, but that was not always so. In buttons, the crowns had to be filed and in helmet front plates, they had to be cut. Most of the surviving helmets keep their front plates complete, so it is likely that this type of headdress was scarcely worn in the early days of the Republic.

New uniforms were finally adopted by decree of August the 7^th 1911. These included a new helmet, officially described as the 1911 model “chapéu” (or “hat”). This new helmet (figs. 1 and 2) was made of stiffened gray felt (in fact, surviving helmets are made of stiffened cloth covered with felt), with a 3 cm wide brim of similar felt around the base of the skull. On the front, these hats were fitted with a 4 cm diameter “Kokarde” with the new national colours (red and green, in replacement of the royal blue and white colours). These “Kokarden” were silk for officers and painted leather for other ranks. The center of the “Kokarde” was fitted with badges or unit numbers (silver for general officers, gilt for officers and brass for other ranks). The peaks had a 30º tilt and they were 5 cm (front), 6 cm (rear) and 3 cm (sides) wide. On the inner side, a sweat-band was placed over 1,5 cm cork discs, providing some air circulation. An hemispheric top, covered in felt and pierced with eight 0,5 cm holes, was placed over the skull. To my knowledge, none of these helmets survived in its original condition, although several “updated models” still exist.

Found to be very expensive, the 1911 dress regulations were deeply modified by decree of August the 23^rd 1913. As part of this process, the 1911 helmet was abolished and replaced by a new helmet (fig. 3), officially designated as “chapéu-capacete” (or “helmet-hat”). This new helmet was made of stiffened gray felt, with a blackened copper spike (figs. 4).

The “Kokarde”, which became much smaller, was made of pressed and painted (red and green) leather, both for officers and other ranks. General officers kept their 1911 badge, a silver five-pointed star, but other officers started wearing blackened metal unit badges or numbers. Other ranks did not wear any unit badges or numbers on their helmets (fig. 5).

The 1913 helmet seems to have been produced by two makers only: a Portuguese Oporto firm, “Costa Braga & Filhos” (“Costa Braga & Sons”) and another unidentified (perhaps, but not certainly, British) firm that stamped the sweat-bands “Best London” e “Extra Light”. All the surviving “Costa Braga & Filhos” helmets were issued to other ranks. They are made of coarse felt and bear the Firm’s name on a black, rather crude, sweat-band. All the “Best London”/“Extra Light” were issued to officers or cadets, are made of lighter felt and display much better quality (figs. 6 and 7).

Apart from the spike, a top of hemispheric shape was used for drill and combat. Although this “field-top” was never officially regulated, it was extensively worn, and at least some 1913 helmets seem to have been issued with both (figs. 8 and 9). It is also likely that the war with the German Empire in Africa contributed to the abolishment of the spike which was, after all, a powerful symbol of the enemy. Whatever the reason, many units involved in the WWI African campaigns never wore the spike. Such was the case of the Naval Fusiliers Battalion sent to Angola in 1914 (fig. 10).

Besides the official painted leather version, the 1913 “Kokarde” was also produced in at least three other versions: a single piece of stamped and painted metal without piercing, a single piece of stamped and painted metal, pierced in the centre to receive a brass stud and a two-piece stamped and painted metal version (fig. 11). Another change brought about by war was that other ranks started to wear unit badges or numbers on their helmets (fig. 12, 13 and 14).

Due to the fact that it was worn in Africa, the 1913 Portuguese helmet may be qualified as a sun helmet. However, it was never intended for tropical use and performed poorly: it was very hot and, even worse, the felt was an attractive meal for many African insects. One must remember that war between Portugal and the German Empire started in Africa in 1914 and that expeditionary forces had to be speedily deployed. This fact is remarkable because war was only officially declared in 1916 and until then none of the enemies even felt the need to withdraw their ambassadors. The 1913 helmet career, as a sun helmet, was short. By 1916, most soldiers in Africa were equipped with much adequate slouch hats (fig. 15). In the Mainland, it was also abandoned and exchanged for the new steel helmets.

As collectors’ items, both the 1913 “African” and “Mainland” helmets are exceedingly rare WWI testimonies. If you are lucky enough to have one, keep it safe!

Pedro Soares Branco