Author Archives: Peter Suciu

The Sun Helmet of Frederick Charles Denison

The name Frederick Charles Denison may not be as well known as that of Garnet Wolseley, but Denison played an important role in the Sudan Campaign when he commanded the Canadian Voyageurs on the Nile. Denison distinguished himself during the war, and was given prominent mention in dispatches but he also received multiple honors and awards.

Had Denison not taken part in the ill-fated campaign, he still would have left his mark as a militia officer, lawyer, author, businessman and politician. Born to the wealthy and influential Denison family, he was drawn to military service after his older brother Captain George Taylor Denison III became a militia officer. Continue reading

Ethiopian Sun Helmets in the Korean War

Ethiopian soldiers on their way to South KoreaEthiopia was one of the 16 nations that made up the United Nations Command (UNC) to fight in the Korean War. The men in Ethiopia’s Kagnew Battalion, which were largely drawn from the Ethiopian Imperial Bodyguard Division of Haile Selassie I. The unit fought alongside the U.S. 7th Infantry Division and took part in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill, earning a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation. Continue reading

Australian Bandsmen Helmets

While the sun/pith helmet isn’t largely associated with the Australian military, at least not as much as the slouch hat, the helmets are still in use today for those men and women in the military bands. Currently two different units wear a modern-made plastic version of the iconic “colonial pattern” sun helmet.

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Pre-Thousand Days War Colombian Sun Helmet

Colombian Tropical Helmet

Despite not having overseas colonies, numerous South American nations adopted sun helmets at the end of the 19th century. These nations followed the European patterns – and several South American nations also adopted the Prussian/German pickelhaube as a parade and even combat helmet. Both the sun helmets and pickelhaubes saw use in such conflicts of the War of the Triple Alliance.

One nation that relied heavily on German equipment, and whose army took on a most “Prussian look” was that of Colombia – a nation that still uses pickelhaubes as part of its ceremonial and parade dress.

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Spanish Naval Sun Hats

Despite the Spanish defeat during the Spanish-American War, which cost the nation its colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines the nation continued to maintain a modern army. During the 19th century the Spanish military had worn French-made sun helmets that were in essence copies of the 1886 pattern – but the Spanish also used British made helmets throughout its empire. After the Spanish-American War the Spanish even adopted a helmet that was a copy of the Wolseley pattern.

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The “Steel” Tropical Helmet of the KNIL

One of the more “unique” tropical helmets of the 20th century was the variation of the Dutch Model 1927 steel helmet. While many steel combat helmets were used in tropical regions during the Second World War, most were the basic helmet simply worn in that theater of operations.

However, the steel combat helmets used by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army or Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (KNIL) were actually developed and produced specifically for use by that military force. Instead of issuing the KNIL with the newly adopted Model 1927 helmet, which was used by the Dutch military in the Netherlands the Dutch Minister of War called the development of a modified version.

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Book Announcement: I caschi coloniali italiani 1889-1943: Evoluzione & classificazione

We’re pleased to announce that our good friend and MilitarySunHelmets.com contributor Enzo Faraone’s new book is now available. I caschi coloniali italiani 1889-1943: Evoluzione & classificazione (The Italian colonial helmets 1889-1943: Evolution & classification) covers the history and evolution of the Italian tropical helmet.

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