Sun Helmet/Uniform

[Blackblue]

Any views on this bust?

[Gunner 87]

41 minutes ago, Blackblue said:

Any views on this bust?

Hi Blackblue.

It appears the person portrayed in the bust is wearing the same pattern jacket, with the ammunition pockets above the breast pockets, as Churchill is seen when serving in the Sudan. if this is correct then the bust may date from circa 1898.

Just food for thought date wise.

Gunner

Edited 13 January by Gunner 87

[FROGSMILE]

On 13/01/2024 at 00:39, Blackblue said:

Any views on this bust?

It’s based on a quite famous cartoonish (caricature) picture of Lord Wolseley that in its day had a similar fame of instant recognition to the ‘Your Country Needs You’ poster of Lord Kitchener.  Wolseley was quite a slender individual in body and face and the most enduring icon of his was probably the Sun helmet named after him.  Both of these were emphasised in the picture and your bust**.

Wolseley was at the time what in the modern world we call a celebrity.  He was also one of the two figures who dominated the Army’s officers corps each with their own following.  The other was Lord Roberts.  The two influential groups became known as the Wolseley Set and the Roberts Set.  The latter ‘set’ endured the longest as Wolseley seems to have developed some kind of premature dementia in his later years and went into decline, whereas Roberts retained his wits and still wielded substantial influence right up until his death, still in uniform, early in WW1.

**variations on which were once popular.

Edited 15 January by FROGSMILE

[Blackblue]

Thanks gents, 

Appreciated. 

TD

[Muerrisch]

Wolseley also wrote and supervised several editions of his marvellous 

Soldier's Pocket-book for Field Service, of similar value to Callwell's Small Wars, their principles and practice.

The soldiers' saying of something well-organised and executed was "All SiGarno". [Sir Garnet]

Both books are essential reading for those who believe that the way to understand the Great War is to look backwards 40 years or so: the present has its roots in the past.