A colonial pattern helmet of Paget’s Horse showing one version of the helmet flash (Author’s collection)
Paget’s Horse was an elite unit whose four companies (51st, 52nd, 68th and 73rd) 1 made up the 19th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. “They were public school-educated men recruited through advertisements in gentlemen’s clubs. Continue reading
The Guatemala City Transit Police use a colonial pattern helmet
Many police forces around the world still use white sun helmets during the summer months. Interestingly, many of these seem to be based on the colonial pattern helmet. Continue reading
Later Victorian Era uniforms and sun helmets at the Guards Museum
The Guards Museum in London chronicles the story of the five regiments of Foot Guards (the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards). Its collection includes many fine examples of military sun helmets. Continue reading
Czech Sola Pith Helmets of WWII at the Prague Military Museum
It is a strange thing to consider that the landlocked Central European nation of Czechoslovakia (today the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic) would ever have a need for sun helmets. While the traditional Czech police helmets used in Prague and other cities were made of a pressed fiber material, and even resemble sun helmets, protection from the sun was not the primary purpose.
And despite this fact, there are examples of Czech used sun helmets – notably those used by the Free Czech Forces that fought with the Allies in North Africa and served in garrison duty roles in Palestine. Photos suggest that the Khaki Sola Pith pattern was the most commonly used pattern – often with the tri-color Czech flag attached to the left side. Continue reading
One somewhat forgotten sun helmet pattern was that used by the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Issued just months before America’s entry into the Second World War, these seemed based on the pressed fiber helmets used by the United States but offered a larger rear brim. And instead of pressed fiber these were made of pressed coconut fiber!
Reportedly used an a substitute for the campaign or “Montana Peak” hat, these were widely used during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.
Peter Suciu
A vintage 1950s ad that shows how closely the post-war polo helmet resembled the military sun helmet
One interesting connection between the military and sun helmet has been discovered. This isn’t exactly ground breaking, but research has shown that the connection runs far deeper than previously understood. Continue reading