Toby Brayley Posted 7 March , 2015 Share Posted 7 March , 2015 Hello. I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me. Does anybody have any info/images, they would be willing to share, on cavalry helmet flashes during the Great War. The only unit I am able to find any contemporary reference to them in use with is the 11th Hussars. Albeit from 1 photograph and a couple of colour drawings from 1917-1918. I am keen to know what designs any of the regiments, Yeomanry or Regular wore. Many thanks in advance. Colour Drawing from 1918 by R Hartman 11H. "Crimson" colour triangle. Photograph, also by Hartman, 1918. Just visible on the left hand side of the helmet. Also note the flash is clearly visible in my profile picture. 10th Royal Hussars on exercise in 1926. Not wartime but might be an idea of what, if any, was worn during the Great War? Appears to be PWO feathers and a coloured background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 17 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2015 Resurrecting the thread in the hope it will be of interest to some. Two Brodies were brought to me today. They belonged to Privates Hammet and Harling who served with the 11th Hussars during the Great War, they had sat in the sons shed for decades. On the side of this nice raw edge was this....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 17 August , 2015 Share Posted 17 August , 2015 Very nice. Will we be seeing it in the Museum sometime soon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 17 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2015 yes I will have to de-cobweb and hide it from the health and safety weasel first and then it will go in the Great War showcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rghya Posted 17 August , 2015 Share Posted 17 August , 2015 Just gone through 200+ likely images of Gloucestershire Yeomanry,(1916-19 Sinai), and not a single Helmet had a flash on it, not much help I know but at least you can discount this one Regiment from your list! One interesting photo though, of inter-unit "games" in 1918; mounted tug-o-war between RGHY and New Zealand Mounted Rifles, cheered on by several other mounted units of all allied nations, shows a plethora of flashes and insignia on theirs. Sad to say too indistinct for recognition purposes but they are out there - keep looking and good luck. In the meantime, I will dig through the Gallipoli stuff...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 18 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2015 GY, Thank you for that. I only have one actual photo of it in use with the 11th, actually the only picture of the 11th in helmets in our archive! I will keep looking and update the thread accordingly. Toby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 18 August , 2015 Share Posted 18 August , 2015 A few weeks ago, Mrs Broomfield and I visited the Queen's Own Hussars museum in Warwick. Unfortunately, most of it was closed (Curator on hols), but what was open had a tunic of a (IIRC) 3rd Hussar NCO, 1918-era, which was displaying a blue, edged yellow, triangle at the top of the arm. I think Mrs B took a picture so I will see if I can prevail upon her to let me have a copy to post later in the week. Nothing helmet-based, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 18 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2015 that would be great Steven, again the colouring would suggest a Regimental link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 19 August , 2015 Share Posted 19 August , 2015 Here's one from my collection. Never knew which unit it was? Guess 10th Hussars now? It is the 1917 Brodie with rubber ring in crown. Great War or post WW1? Or both? TT Flash on both sides of helmet. One side more faded due to light exposure. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Haselgrove Posted 19 August , 2015 Share Posted 19 August , 2015 Toby,Attached are a couple of photos of a private purchase, raw edge helmet in my collection which may be of interest to you. The badge is that of 3rd King's Own Hussars.Regards,Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 19 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 August , 2015 (edited) Cracking stuff, many thanks indeed for sharing chaps. TT despite the large archive that we have I can offer no further clarification that its a XRH flash or not as we only have the one pic. I would normally say that the style of the PWO feathers on the helmet are not those commonly found on the various forms XRH of Insignia but looking at the photograph in my OP they look to be a very similar style. The colours normally associated with the XRH are blue and red, the red on the helmet is of a similar shade! Michael that is a stunning find, I think we can safely say that the colours used obviously have a connection with the regiment in question! Here is my restored Brodie (don't worry its not the one in post #2, that's staying as is) with the triangle flash of the 11th Hussars. I have used the photos, drawings and dimensions of the original as basis for the shape and then some educated guess work with the crimson colour associated with the 11th. Regards Toby Edited 19 August , 2015 by Toby Brayley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KENDO Posted 21 August , 2015 Share Posted 21 August , 2015 Hi Toby Info I have as follows:- 10 Hussars - Red POW plumes stencilled on front of helmet on introduction of steel helmets. 11 Hussars - equilateral triangle halved horizontally gold over crimson, introduced October 1916. Gloucestershire Yeo - wore a blue above gold strip above the puggaree Regards Kendo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 24 August , 2015 Author Share Posted 24 August , 2015 (edited) Kendo, many thanks do you have any illustrations of them? I am intrigued by the gold! Regards Toby Edited 24 August , 2015 by Toby Brayley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 24 August , 2015 Share Posted 24 August , 2015 The "gold" might be the yellow as used on the regimental tie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rghya Posted 24 August , 2015 Share Posted 24 August , 2015 Haven't managed to find a suitable image as yet but the RGH have Blue, (Beaufort Blue - for the sky) over Buff, (sands of the desert) with a thin Red line, (blood of the Rgt.) twixt the two, on pennants, flashes etc. Many an argument has ensued prior to parades concerning the left/right, angle/direction of bisecting red line; position of pennants on vehicle antenna etc..... Jolly japes which always amuse the old comrades as there's often a free pint or two to be extracted from the poor sap who gets it wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badjez Posted 25 August , 2015 Share Posted 25 August , 2015 The Northants Yeomanry wore their metal 'white horse' cap badge attached the scrim nets of steel helmets whilst serving in Italy. They also wore the same badge, with a dark (blue?) background on their solar helmets. Photos available at the Northampton County Record Office. Stephen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 30 August , 2015 Share Posted 30 August , 2015 ... Many an argument has ensued prior to parades concerning the left/right, ... It's like ties.... Left to right, as worn, legitimate; right to left, illegitimate... The Yanks have their ties the latter way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 10 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2015 Hi Toby Info I have as follows:- 10 Hussars - Red POW plumes stencilled on front of helmet on introduction of steel helmets. 11 Hussars - equilateral triangle halved horizontally gold over crimson, introduced October 1916. Gloucestershire Yeo - wore a blue above gold strip above the puggaree Regards Kendo Kendo, I would have questioned the fact the the 11th flash was crimson and gold as the artwork depicts a solid crimson triangle and the relic helmet appeared to show the same. But after a few hours conservation work on the helmet this appeared...... the flash is present on both sides, prior to my work there was not even a trace of it, its hard to believe this is the same helmet.....but honestly it is, no paints of thinners used! Before.... After Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 10 September , 2015 Share Posted 10 September , 2015 Wow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 10 September , 2015 Share Posted 10 September , 2015 Bloody Hell! That is impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 10 September , 2015 Share Posted 10 September , 2015 A labour of love with a simply fantastic result! When do you want to start on my bayonets????!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 11 September , 2015 Share Posted 11 September , 2015 And how did you achieve this miracle? TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 11 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2015 And how did you achieve this miracle? TT TT All I have done is bathe the helmet in warm soapy water. A quick gentle moistening using my hands and an ever so gentle wipe down with a few cotton buds, I then drain the water and repeat the process until the water is clear, this took about an hour. There is no trace of a liner or chinstrap so it makes work on the shell much easier. Since the above photograph has been taken and after letting the helmet dry for 24 hours I have given the helmet a thoroughly good coating of Renaissance Wax using cotton buds. Whilst this has darkened the over all colour slightly it will prevent the rust spots from re-appearing and provided it is stored correctly, which it will be, it should remain in a stable and displayable condition. We even have the guys name, and hopefully his medals in the not to distant future, with the helmet so it will make a fantastic addition to the Great War showcase. Regards Toby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 September , 2015 Share Posted 11 September , 2015 Just a question. The top part - is it yellow/gold, or off-colour white? It sort of makes sense for the triangle to represent the busby flash, so (without seeing it) is white possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 11 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2015 Steven, 100% its yellow (the same yellow as the regimental ties), not an off white or a white that has deteriorated over time. I will leave in a box for you to peruse tomorrow! I have just dug up some more info on its wartime owner! Toby PS This picture of the Bays attack at Fampoux on 11 April 1917 depicts a red a white helmet flash in use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now