PhilB Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 Headgear isn`t my strong point. Can anyone enlighten me as to what this gentleman is wearing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 I think it’s a Balaclava Helmet and your man has folded the neck piece up, the reason I say this is that pattern of Balaclava is still sold today in climbing shops and I wore one in the 70ies in exactly the same way. All the best, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 I think it’s a Balaclava Helmet and your man has folded the neck piece up, the reason I say this is that pattern of Balaclava is still sold today in climbing shops and I wore one in the 70ies in exactly the same way. All the best, Paul. Ski masks these days. I'd agree but for one odd thing. His coat appears to have a hood and his headwear seems to be worn over this so if he needed to fold his balaclava down his hood would be inside which I suspect would be quite uncomfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 His coat appears to have a hood and his headwear seems to be worn over this so if he needed to fold his balaclava down his hood would be inside which I suspect would be quite uncomfortable. I don't see a hood. Looks to me as though he has his collar turned up but nothing beyond that. Some of the later patterns of Forage/side Caps could be converted into a balaclave style helmet by unfastening the sides, is this perhaps some version of this? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 I don't see a hood. Its the bit at the back covering his ears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 All, I have just dug my Balaclava out and replicated what is seen in the picture. The Balaclava has a peak incorporated into it he is wearing the helmet the wrong way round so the peak is now covering his neck this is blending into the Great Coat collar. There is a famous photograph of the 11th Hussars Machine Gun section in a trench in 1915 the bloke in the front has just such a helmet on but with the peak forward. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 28 December , 2010 Author Share Posted 28 December , 2010 11th Hussars in a trench. Is this the headgear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 All, I have just dug my Balaclava out and replicated what is seen in the picture. The Balaclava has a peak incorporated into it he is wearing the helmet the wrong way round so the peak is now covering his neck this is blending into the Great Coat collar. There is a famous photograph of the 11th Hussars Machine Gun section in a trench in 1915 the bloke in the front has just such a helmet on but with the peak forward. Paul so no hood then? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 Phil, yes that is the picture, chap in the other photo has the peak the other way round (at the back) and the neck upright instead of ruffled down. Chris, no I don’t think there is a hood, I’ve just tried it again with my Great Coat with collar up and it looks identical to the picture with the exception of the size of the peak at the back. Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 28 December , 2010 Share Posted 28 December , 2010 Tocemma, Yes that’s it exactly, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th Hauraki KIA KAHA Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 Hi Nice to see another example, I have one of exactly the same pattern just a different shade of green, that was worn By a New Zealander of the Wellington infantry at Gallipoli, it came back with a 1915 dated "Gor'blimey" cap. Regards Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 Just as an aside, I would be interested to know what has been used to stiffen the peak - if it's possible to tell. Regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
133.R Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 I am enthusiastic about this kind of headgear. How big is the chance to get something like this? Regards Sven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 I am enthusiastic about this kind of headgear. How big is the chance to get something like this? Regards Sven They are manufactured in Scottish woollen mills and were still part of the MOD's 'pooled' adventure training clothing inventory well into the 1980s. I understand that the wool undergoes a controlled boiling process to achieve the tight and fluffy, almost felt-like weave. The design is entirely unchanged. They were widely issued to the BEF in 1914 and there are numerous photos of the 2nd Batt Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) wearing them in their trenches, as they had a young officer who was a photography enthusiast and who broke standing orders to take them. They are less frequently seen after 1916 and the widespread issue of steel helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 Thank you Tocemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 I am enthusiastic about this kind of headgear. How big is the chance to get something like this? Regards Sven The chance of getting a bona fide WW1 example, especially with provenance? Small to zero I'm afraid. Cheers, GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
133.R Posted 29 December , 2010 Share Posted 29 December , 2010 I had expected. Regards Sven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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