Pith Helmet of the 7th Battalion The Tank Corps

RTR leftI recently purchased this helmet, from a dealer after seeing it online. The helmet itself is unnamed, but of good private purchase quality, and would have belonged to an officer of the 7th Battalion, The Tank Corps. The helmet would date to the early 1920s when the 7th battalion were sent to India along with the 8th Battalion.

The 7th Battalion Tank Corps has its foundations in World War One as G Battalion, The Tank Corps and saw action throughout Belgium and France, at the many notable battles of Pilkem, Kitcheners Wood, Gheluvelt Plateau, Flesquieres and Bourlon Wood. With the end of WW1, the Tank Corps was significantly reduced in strength with many battalions being disbanded by 1919. During the post WW1 years there was much unrest throughout the Middle and Far Eastern countries in Iraq, Egypt, Palestine and India, as they fought to lessen Great Britain’s Influence or gain Independence. By this time the remaining Tank Corps Battalions had been reduced to nothing more than Light Armoured Car Companies used to police The British Empire, with nearly all being stationed in the Middle East and India. By the early 1920s twelve Armoured Car Companies were formed, all, except the 12th, served in India and Iraq.

By 1923 The Tank Corps had become The Royal Tank Corps with a further name change when they combined with the newly mechanised Cavalry Regiments to become the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939.

7th RTR Parading in India 1920s (courtesy of 4th/7th Royal Tank Rregiment.com)

7th RTR Parading in India 1920s (courtesy of 4th/7th Royal Tank Regiment.com)

The helmet itself is of a typical Wolseley pattern with a leather trimmed edge and 8 fold puggaree. On the left side is a 7th Tank Corps Patch of Red, Brown and Green with an embroidered number 7. Several small moth nips to the patch don’t really detract from the look of the helmet, which is overall in very good condition. The Regimental colours are Brown, Red and Green which is said to signify “From Mud, through Blood to the Green fields beyond”. The helmet manufacturer is J&G Ross of Exeter, a Hatter and Ladies & Gents Tailor as well as a Military and Naval outfitter of 227 High Street in Exeter. They are associated or are a subsidiary of Hepburn, Gale & Ross Ltd, of Bermondsey, London, one of the larger War Office contractors of the Great War.

AdvertAdvertRoss advertRoss compositeThe Interior of the helmet has a standard private purchase liner of a leather headband with silk top and draw string, with the ventilation being provided by a zig zag buckram insert between the helmet and liner, a manufacturers label is fixed at the ventilation cap. Overall a nice helmet, with some service wear, just a pity it is not named the helmetBenny Bough

Sources:

  1. Tanks Again by Peter Payne & Jim MacDonald
  2. Khaki Foreign Service Helmet Embellishments. Regular Infantry Regiment, 1920-1940 By John Mollo
  3. A Company of Tanks by Major W.H.L. Watson, D.S.O. D.C.M.
  4. The Ironclads of Cambrai by Brian Cooper.
  5. The Army in British India: From Colonial Warfare to Total War 1857 – 1947 By Roy Kaushik

2 thoughts on “Pith Helmet of the 7th Battalion The Tank Corps

  1. Avatarsteve wilcox

    where can i buy a pith helmet for everyday use made in this wolseley style in todays market other than a collectors item? thanks-steve wilcox-marfa-texas usa-phone number 9155393247.

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