Description
Physical description
Helmet: wide-brimmed cork helmet covered in 'white' drill cloth with a folded pagri. The cloth-covered dome and leather chinstrap are detached and connected to the sealed pattern label by cloth tapes.
Label
The khaki Wolseley pattern helmet (named after General Sir Garnet Wolseley) was first used by some regimental officers during Kitchener's Sudan campaign of 1898; it's wide brim being more efficient than the earlier universal pattern. During the South African War, 1899-1902, the helmet was largely worn by staff officers but subsequently became a universal issue to all troops serving in hot climates from 1902.
Whilst khaki helmets were worn in the field, white were adopted in certain stations for full dress, for example in India, often embellished with the addition of metal spikes and curb chains. Khaki helmets used by officers invariably were defined by the leather trim that edged the brim, whereas those worn by other ranks featured khaki tape edging. The use of metal cap badges worn at the front of the headdress gave way to the adoption of coloured cloth flashes and titles that were sewn to the left side of the pagri.
The Wolseley pattern universal foreign service helmet continued as a practical form of head protection until phased out in the Middle East in 1942 (finally abolished in Jordan and the Sudan in 1948), but still to be seen worn by bandsmen of the Royal Marines whilst on ceremonial duties.
This item is Sealed Pattern, the attached label stating it is no. 4729 of 1948.
History note
The khaki Wolseley pattern helmet (named after General Sir Garnet Wolseley) was first used by some regimental officers during Kitchener's Sudan campaign of 1898; it's wide brim being more efficient than the earlier universal pattern. During the South African War, 1899-1902, the helmet was largely worn by staff officers but subsequently became a universal issue to all troops serving in hot climates from 1902.
Whilst khaki helmets were worn in the field, white were adopted in certain stations for full dress, for example in India, often embellished with the addition of metal spikes and curb chains. Khaki helmets used by officers invariably were defined by the leather trim that edged the brim, whereas those worn by other ranks featured khaki tape edging. The use of metal cap badges worn at the front of the headdress gave way to the adoption of coloured cloth flashes and titles that were sewn to the left side of the pagri.
The Wolseley pattern universal foreign service helmet continued as a practical form of head protection until phased out in the Middle East in 1942 (finally abolished in Jordan and the Sudan in 1948), but still to be seen worn by bandsmen of the Royal Marines whilst on ceremonial duties.
This item is Sealed Pattern, the attached label stating it is no. 4729 of 1948.
Printed (inside)
S. COMPTON, SONS, & WEBB LIMITED LONDON 6 7/8
Stamped (inside headband)
Hobson + Sons (LONDON) LTD