Comments on: Cool Order Football Helmets images

By: TheBrinkswayBoy

TheBrinkswayBoy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:07:55 +0000

Yes, my dad was in Belgium as well during the war. He went to see the CinemaScope film "A Dog of Flanders", in 1961, starring David Ladd and Donald Crisp, because it was all filmed entirely on location in Holland and Belgium and it looked very colourful and he knew the locations from when he was there during the war. The two large group photos where none of the men were wearing their pith helmets were photographed on a dull day (the sun wasn’t always shining, even in India) and I reckon they didn’t need to wear them while the photos were taken.

By: Mr. Sable™

Mr. Sable™ — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:48:17 +0000

I wore a pith helmet last summer in Mexico and was glad I had it. You dip them in water and they keep your head cool a long time.

By: Eagle 142

Eagle 142 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:27:42 +0000

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/35455749@N06] I’ll watch out for those. My father was in Belgium but avoided Dunkirk because he was ill in a rear hospital and got out via Cherbourg. Never left the country again. The group photos show heliograph instruments with the men and I know they were still used because my dad helped set up a new distance record – but I cannot find what it was.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/51809917@N00] I don’t doubt you are correct. There are certainly a lot of shots where the men are wearing them.

By: Mr. Sable™

Mr. Sable™ — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:26:34 +0000

To be in the hot sun all day without a hat is insanity. I’m sure the helmets are practical rather than adherence to the rules.

By: TheBrinkswayBoy

TheBrinkswayBoy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:44:34 +0000

No, I never tried to obtain his service record. He fought all the way through World War Two as well. He never spoke much about the war, but I know he fought at El Alamein. I have two large group photos taken in India. One is undated, but has "Shalom, Photographers, Lucknow" stamped on the back. The other, taken at a different location, has a sign on it in front of the men that says "Demonstration Platoon, 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, S.A.S. Ahmednager, 1937-1938". They seem to be demonstrating machine guns. All the faces are very clear on the photos because they are not wearing their pith helmets. I will scan those and put them up on my Photostream tomorrow.

By: Eagle 142

Eagle 142 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:36:19 +0000

Thank you. Those look interesting photos and I have a few which look similar – at least as far as this loose dress code goes ) I guess they would have served at the same time although, in a full battalion, they may never have known each other. I have an official group photo showing my father in the Signals Section at Landi Kotal in 1933 ( and another, still in the Signals Section although it is of the wining football team, in 1935 but it doesn’t say where it is.) They have names on them but none of your Dad. Maybe they are both in that "Colours Presentation" large photo in my photostream. Have you ever tried to get hold of his service record and, if so, was it easy??

By: TheBrinkswayBoy

TheBrinkswayBoy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:03:18 +0000

My dad, Thomas Welsh (1910 – 1970) was with the 1st Battalion, The (22nd) Cheshire Regiment, in India in 1933 and he also wore a pith helmet. There are a couple of photos of him and his army pals on my photostream and there are still a few more in the family album.

By: Eagle 142

Eagle 142 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:47:24 +0000

Thank you. It still makes me smile )

By: Mudplugga

Mudplugga — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:50:24 +0000

That’s a wonderful picture.

By: Howard Somerville

Howard Somerville — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:46:34 +0000

Fun, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.