The history of military sun helmets, often called “pith helmets” or “tropical helmets,” is a subject that has rarely been covered in-depth. Much of the origin of these helmets has remained shrouded in mystery, yet these helmets – thanks to movies such as Zulu, The Bridge on the River Kwai and We Were Soldiers – are as iconic to their conflicts as the German or American steel helmets are to the World Wars.

Authors Peter Suciu and Stuart Bates shed light on the subject of these most interesting helmets with two new books:

---

This book, of over 100 pages, examines the history of these helmets, from the Indian Mutiny through the modern day. With nearly 200 color photographs and illustrations, as well as dozens of period photographs, this book is an essential guide to anyone interested in learning more about this form of military headgear that has been used around the world since the middle of the 19th century.

---

The British Wolseley helmetwas introduced when the empire was essentially at its zenith, and while the Wolseley has a moniker that evokes an eminent Victorian general, it is in fact a helmet more accurately associated with the First and Second World Wars. The Wolseley pattern helmet was worn by the guardians of the empire, from the Battle of Khartoum to the Gallipoli campaign to the Battle of El Alamein.