Sun or Pith Helmet

The sun helmet shows the importance of putting on protection from the extreme heat and glaring sunshine in hot climates. By 1939 tropical helmets had been used by the army for over a hundred years. They were originally made from 'sola', pith from Aeschynomene aspera, an Indian swamp plant, and later from cork or even tightly packed paper, thus they were lightweight and good insulators of heat. A peak at the front shielded the eyes from glare and one at the back protected the nape of the neck. Puggarees, fine cotton scarves in regimental colours, could be wound round the crown and badges attached. Solar topees - sunhelmets - were essential equipment in India, Africa, the Mediterranean and many other theatres of operations. As late as the Second World War, the issue of sunhelmets to a force embarking from Britain indicated shipment East, to the extent that it was used to confuse possible spies. The convoy might actually head off North to Iceland for example. The campaigns in North Africa and Italy, Malaya and Burma saw British and Commonwealth troops wearing berets, slouch hats, kaffiyeh arab scarves, steel helmets and turbans but not pith helmets. Nowadays, only the Royal Marine band are seen in them, marking their historical readiness to go anywhere 'Per Mare Per Terram' - By Sea By Land.