Why the Pith Helmet?

[@macnutz4206]

I found the wider brimmed civilian pith helmet very useful when working out side in the American south. The old safari movie white hunter's helmet. Soaking it in water for cooling purposes only seems to work in a very dry climate. You could not find a white one when I got mine. They were very practical.

[@macnutz4206]

Daniel Kinder The plastic ones are not as good as the true pith helmet but it is still a good design, even in plastic. I used to work road repair in Alabama. It gets pretty warm standing on hot asphalt in that southern sun shine. If one has never done it, it is hard to imagine the reality of working in that combination of heat and humidity. I have worked in desert regions, as well. The humidity of the south makes it much more uncomfortable. The sweat does not evaporate when it is as wet as Mississippi or Alabama. You noticed that, no doubt. 😂😂😂

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Loving this conversation and insight, thank you both

[@Jigaboo123456]

Macnutz-I think I know you, is your name Dragline or Cool Hand Luke? :-) An Interesting post, though, Luke.

[@Jigaboo123456]

Major Sven, it was an interesting and informative clip-- My uncle wore one in India in WW2, I was surprised when you said they were very light. My impression that they were heavy is no doubt due to and Old Colour Sergeant telling us on a Battle march wearing our heavy Para steel helmets that he had sweated buckets under a pith helmet. He was obviously, and appropriately, "coming the old sweat. This was in the late sixties, and the Para helmets then where heavier than the regular battle bowler. They also had cork around the inside of the rim and a rubber "concussion pad" under the crown, to absorb impacts from bad landings and also in the case of the cork, to make them a (very) tight fit when jumping. I'm surprised so many people have clicked "dislike"--ignore them!

[@macnutz4206]

Jay Igaboo Sorry but no. I have never been any thing but Macnutz ,with various numbers, on the internet.

[@BrandonF]

I had heard of the caps being browned with tea or coffee, but I never knew that they would specifically soak them in water to keep the men cool over a march! Brilliant stuff.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Thank you so much for watching, In the description box I have a link to where I got the information. Some of the helmets would have been made with cork (which you couldn't soak in water) but those made with sola pith (a plant of all things) would very often be soaked to keep the head cool. British introduced the first sun helmets made of Pith in the Anglo-Sikh wars of the 1840s and they would be quite common by the time of the Zulu war (though some might disagree)..

[@exploatores]

I prefer to take a foot bath with my socks on, then put the boots on and let the boots dry on my feets the eavning before I shall use a new pair of leather boots for the first time.

[@exploatores]

as much as the sidetrack about german soldiers urinating in their boots. to form their boots to their foot rather then the boot trying to change the foot.

[@pentuprager6225]

Major Sven You could soak coak in water. It wouldnt get wet.

[@totallyfrozen]

It’s a myth. Don’t do it.

[@Jellyvibe]

When I was a kid, before there was such a thing as home video, my dad told me an abbreviated version of Zulu and as a result I had a minor obsession with the movie (he told it really well.) Many years later, when I was in high school, I got to see Zulu and The Man Who Would Be King on a double bill and it remains one of the best movie going experiences of my life.

[@marbleman52]

I also really enjoyed The Man Who Would Be King...a different kind of movie, for sure. Michael Caine and Sean Connery were great....of course anything that either one of them have been in is guaranteed to be a good watch.

[@tweetingsparrow]

Was looking for the man who would be king on video recently, saw it at the theatre also when i was about 11 years old and still remember scenes from it even now, not that i really understood the story. Time to rack it down, i think.

[@MrLikeke]

You wont find The Man Who Would Be King on YT. However, you will find an excellent reading of the Kipling story from which the movie was made.

[@davidwhite4874]

Oculus Orbus Two of my favourite films, too...

[@davidwhite4874]

tweetingsparrow thepiratebay.org is your friend.

[@jahenders]

"But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead: You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said: If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead, An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier." Kipling, Young British Soldier

[@donjet5371]

The movie ZULU was one of the best movies ever ! A great lesson on how tactics can allow a smaller number of combatants to defend itself against an overwhelming force. Michael Cains first movie. Really worth seeing.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Really worth seeing :)

[@lafoonxiii5311]

Agreed, great film...but it was not even close to Caine's first film. Can be considered his "breakout role", if you like. But he had been in plenty of film and tv productions beforehand.

[@donjet5371]

@@lafoonxiii5311 Is that why the opening credits say "Introducing Michael Cain"? Cain was in 9 films prior to ZULU, all UNCREDITED. A bit part as a 'Tea boy', 'thirsty prisoner', 'sailor', or 'nameless policeman' does not make one a movie star.

[@lafoonxiii5311]

@@donjet5371 Did I say he was a star? No, I didn't. I just said it was nowhere near his first film role....which is what you said. Reading comprehension can be tricky.

[@justmeeagainn]

@@lafoonxiii5311 Autists will fight about anything on the internet. You both need to get lives.

[@chuckcelemin6789]

"Anyone love the old Zulu movie staring Michael Cain?" Better question: Anyone NOT love the old Zulu movie staring Michael Cain?

[@cozmcwillie7897]

When the soup gets poured on the fire, that does annoy me for the rest of the film. Who wouldn't know to shovel dirt on a fire to put it out? It didn't bother me when I saw it as kid at the pictures soon after its release; but it does now. My old Man used to make great soup ... I think of it gettin poured away when I'm lookin forward to a plateful.

[@shoutinghorse]

@@cozmcwillie7897 It probably never happened as there are quite a number of historical inaccuracies in the movie.

[@cozmcwillie7897]

@@shoutinghorse Yeah I agree. I don't think it could've happened in real life. How they could've thought it a sensible true to life idea while making the movie is a mystery to me. With all the people on the set you'd think one of them would've said something.

[@vespelian5769]

I saw saw it at the Brixton Odeon (Now the Ritizy) with my Dad and it wasn't half authentic when we came out again into the dark.

[@MsBenlane]

i was lucky enough to see it in a theatre when it came out and loved it and the music. back when i had cable and was flipping channels and there it was i ended up watching it again.stanley baker made some good pics such as jell drivers

[@bangkokgal]

I live in Thailand, and have both the white and Khaki styles. As Shirley Temple was told in "Wee Willie Winkie", NEVER go out in the sun without your pith helmet, not even if you are a mad dog or Englishman....

[@paulshell4237]

I wore one of those every summer for 22 years playing with a pipe band. They are cool and comfortable.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Amazing and awesome...

[@Legogunpro]

This video was so British it colonized my PC

[@MajorSvenGaming]

We have a flag.... you have no hope :)

[@jesspeters1213]

Legogunpro2017 Bwahahaha hood one

[@barbarahallinan1151]

lego...........you do know shes german.....................

[@klackon1]

Legogunpro2017. Brilliant!

[@bandccoresohio]

Legogunpro2017 lol

[@Wingalaxi]

I find my buff pith imperial helmet very useful on hot summer afternoons. Good design and excellent reminder of more interesting times.

[@trevormillar2755]

Old army joke: Officer to soldier; "Pith Off!" (i.e, remove your headgear when indoors) Soldier; "But Thir, I only jutht got here!"

[@AudieHolland]

The German Afrika Korps started out using pith helmets. But they quickly switched to the simple 'fighting hats' for the remainder of their existence. Just look up 'Afrika korps hat.' The North Vietnamese Army also used very broad pith helmets.

[@LegendaryKazooMann1936]

I do believe the Italians used them as well.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

actually the DAK used their modal 1940 throughout the desert campaigns, includeing in Tunsia in 1943.

[@AudieHolland]

​@@matthiuskoenig3378 Probably when they were off-duty or when posing for photographs. I just don't see them fighting in the desert wearing those ridiculous looking hats. They would have been laughed out of North Africa by the British if they had. Or even worse: 'Look, it's the Italians again!'

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@AudieHolland You are entirely misinformed.

[@LiterallyMe2022]

​@@AudieHollandridiculous for you but it is practical for them

[@andymetternich7453]

I remember my Guyanese wife telling me about the British officer checking the village for mosquitoes and supervising the spraying for them. He always wore his Pith Helmet too. That was in her childhood when the place was called Guiana 😁

[@MoaByte-v2z]

It's rather a practical hat for those serious about protection from mosquitoes in the hotter climates. Ol'Chappy likely ment well enough. (With the accent).

[@gudgengrebe]

This was really interesting. I learned a lot. I had no idea that it was made either of cork or pith … didn’t even know what pith was, until I read all the comments. Well done for finding all these interesting facts. Good luck with your channel. On the strength of this video, I have subscribed! Thank you.

[@-oiiio-3993]

A pithy topic.

[@Slarti]

It was not unknown that when a young man was about to embark on a campaign in foreign lands his friends would say "You're taking the pith aren't you?"

[@-oiiio-3993]

Pith off.

[@roberthayes9842]

When you know every great line in a film you know you're on a winner, loved this film as a 12yr old in 69 my son loved it in 99, thats a great film

[@gpgpgpgp1000]

Very informative video! The Vietnamese were using pith helmets (of a different design) during the Vietnam War.

[@yacawntmiss]

Marines were issues them in the Pacific WWII. Different style/composition.

[@cantcifudontopenuris7335]

WOW! Fascinating! Straight from the heart of the U.S.A. (Texas) I'm giving you two thumbs up ! Thanks for enlightening me...

[@patricks1560]

A side effect is it makes you look taller, always useful when dealing with the natives. The policeman's hat in the UK is a good example, as are the busbys guard regiments wore, or the top hats popular in the UK when social distinctions were a thing.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

True.. Nepoleonic helmets had a similar purpose.. It was all about hight and distinction..

[@fossy4321]

Bearskins.

[@thudor1]

I've got a khaki one, the kind with six aluminum-grommeted holes on each side (two over four) and a fake brown leather strap with aluminum buckle. It's made in Vietnam and I use it for school crossing guard duty. It works great!!

[@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE]

Love the info, and love the story of the battle of Rorke's Drift. Thank you for posting!

[@Huakalongo]

The founder of my school -1857-, "Mackay School" in Chile, Peter Mackay, was an veteran officer of the 2nd Warwickshire Rifles Regiment. The anthem of my school is just the melody of Men of Harlesh but with another lyrics.

[@studinthemaking]

That was a great helmet.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Darn Right :)

[@MrDaiseymay]

WISH I HAD ONE

[@paulweston4829]

Would that type of helmet offer any protection at all, towards blunt force trauma ? I´m guessing it is still better than nothing at all?

[@swimminlane3566]

I remember my father had the non military type in the 50's & 60's, he wore it in the summer if he was painting

[@swimminlane3566]

The pith helmet was a glorified sun hat, not Kevlar

[@captmemo6265]

Thank your posting. Really love the final statement by the Colour Sergeant, " Because there is nobody here. Just Us !"

[@johncodmore]

I once wore a pith helmet around Brittany, maybe 2003? A very attractive French female came up and asked Why I was dressed as a colonialist? Sadly my schoolboy french could only reply " Cest Pratitque" I meant it's practical but it might also mean I have permission to enter port after a bout of plague, no ... it didn't end well.

[@summerrosesutton3073]

I was standing in line behind the last man to be issued the suntan Bermuda shorts, Bush jacket and Pith Helmet in Jul 60. I was issued the 505 Suntan Uniform and was very happy. Although the 505s would not hold a crease at all, except where you did not want a crease. I still to this day do not understand why the American AF was so dead set on looking like the British RAF/Army in uniform.

[@rotorheadv8]

In addition, the White reflects the hot sunlight off of it, keeping the wearer cool.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

True, I missed a few things I wanted to say and that was one of them, a script is great but I always go off script and start to meander... its a curse really but helps me look natural :) massive thanks for watching

[@totallyfrozen]

Sounds good in theory, but in practice it’s negligible. I have a white pith helmet and have worn it in 100+ degree Texas summer sun. I noticed no difference between it and my khaki helmets.

[@alexhorvath8836]

I liked this. good short tale, interesting, well done Major Sven. I am interested in the movie, saw it again recently and liked it once more

[@gunnerhoward3134]

Pith helmets are cool, Want one.

[@davidwhite4874]

MajorSelfPain That link doesn't go where you think it goes......

[@danyoung399]

David White aye i had a space inbetween. I have updated the link . Cheers

[@gunnerhoward3134]

MajorSelfPain - Aye sah, I'll have one of those :)

[@anghinetti]

Judge 400 Years: Join the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and you'll get one for nothing - and with a spike on top!

[@gunnerhoward3134]

anghinetti I joined the wrong regiment for sure :(

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

i have a replica boer war period helmet which i where as often as i can as i found it extremely comfy and protects me from the sun very nicely. it also makes me feel like myself, but so do all military head gear so ja.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I find mine incredibly comfortable too, I really like it. Massive thank you for watching

[@BucketListBadass]

That hat will make you the very model of a modern Major-General ;)

[@jamesdavies4357]

Hey Stephen its cool to see so many people talking about your video. You've always been passionate about this type of history, maybe you should revisit it more when you can in future videos.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Right James... I am amazed

[@farmerned6]

Mr. Witt, sir? Be quiet now, will you? There's a good gentleman. You'll upset the lads.

[@FlatRangeOperator]

what is the main helmet material? not the cover but the actual helmet?

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Can be cork or solar pith... don't get the cork ones wet.

[@FlatRangeOperator]

Major Sven Gaming ah ok so its just for sun protection and uniform.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

yep pretty much :)

[@georgerobinson2572]

The slope at the back of the helmet may have caused a problem when firing from a prone position

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I took my helmet out of the cabinet and went into a prone position.... its impossible... I can only assume the helmet was taken off to fire prone, your eyes look upward and get a view of the inside of the brim.... wish I would have checked this before making the video :)

[@ahorsewithnoname643]

Prone ? Get off your belly and fight like a man. Don't think shooting prone was really done then. Standing or kneeling I think were the acceptable firing positions.

[@michaelmanning5379]

The great advantage of the breech loader was being able to give sustained fire while prone. In the Franco-Prussian War the Prussians would advance in rushes, dropping prone each time. The officers sometimes had a heck of a time getting the men to get up once they had gone down. It's not a great tactic when fighting an opponent who is above you, as in the Northwest Frontier, or who is more likely to run up to you with a spear to skewer you, as in South Africa and the Sudan. In the Riel Rebellion in very flat Saskatchewan, however, the Metis fired from rifle pits dug down slope of river valleys. The men of the Field Force wore Glengarry caps rather than Foreign Service helmets so that they could lie prone and return fire.

[@ttaibe]

+ 2manynegativewaves - You stupid woman! The french would never fight prone. Do you know how hard it is to get up and run away from a prone position? And putting your arms up to surrender doesn't work well either.

[@colinp2238]

Is it possible to wear it back to front when prone? If you are prone you are not so much as a target standing/kneeling.

[@robnewman6101]

The Custodian Helmet is the headgear traditionally worn by male police constables and sergeants while on foot patrol in England and Wales. Officers of all ranks in most forces are also issued a flat, peaked cap that is worn on mobile patrol in a vehicle. Ranks above sergeant wear the peaked cap only. However, some Inspectors wear the Custodian Helmet, but with two silver bands around the base (to match the two pips worn as rank insignia) to denote their position. Claimed by some sources to have been based on the spiked pickelhaube worn by the Prussian Army, it was first adopted by the London Metropolitan Police in 1863 to replace the "stovepipe" top hat worn since 1829. In 1863, the Metropolitan Police replaced the previous uniform of white trousers, swallow-tailed coat and top hat in favour of very dark blue trousers, a more modern button up tunic and the early type of helmet which had an upturned brim at the front and a raised spine at the back, running from the bottom to the top of the helmet, which became known as the "cockscomb".

[@XxKINGatLIFExX]

The pith helmet and red coat is such an ancient and iconic image of the new world. Britain were forerunners and seeing a soldier dressed in this uniform in the blazing afternoon sun of Africa is an image as old as maps of the world. It's a trend of greater days that have gone before. The Brits were certainly a superior and intellectually advanced civilisation hence why I'm speaking the language now.

[@fabulousdolphin4221]

Agreed.

[@sewellpercy3179]

The British have obviously colonised your ass

[@superaccurssed3857]

The pith hat was Filipino then adopted by Spain then adopted by the French then by the British

[@googleuser3163]

@@superaccurssed3857 Absolutely correct. It's a shame that people only associate the Pith Helmet with Colonialism... It has a long civilian history before and after those events.

[@krishnamurti2436]

@QueenatLife Oh yes, must have been terribly hot at 15 degrees Celsius in Rorke's Drift.

[@carlopton]

Zulu is one of the best historical movies ever, and focuses on individuals instead of glorious fantasy.

[@lawrencehawkins7198]

Some of the family members of people that were actually there, didn't think so.

[@garychambers6848]

One of the best movies ever made...

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Agreed, that and all quite on the western front where my two go to movies as a child :)

[@williamjackson5942]

It was quite quite....

[@hannesbaumann8509]

Well, I liked it... but is it historically accurate? I think I remember it being romanticized somewhat... and the officers in the film actually being competent.

[@glockensig]

The movie was fairly historically accurate! However, I don't think it was considered a victory. Remember, the lead-up to the defense of Rourke's Drift was a massacre of the British forces - or as it was noted..."The British Army had suffered its worst defeat against an indigenous foe with vastly INFERIOR military technology.

[@anghinetti]

Jacob Zon dag: There are a few inaccuracies in the film.

[@alangardner8596]

My grandfather who died well before I was born was a regular in the Indian Army in the late 19th century. He told my father that when on a march if a soldier lost his pith helmet he would collapse within 20 minutes from the sun. They referred to it as 'Being hit by the doolally stick'.

[@MuckoMan]

Men of Harlech stop your dreaming can't you see their spear points gleaming!

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

I own a Khaki pith helmet which I wear regularly out and about for the last 2 years. It gets a lot of love and has had only two neg comments. My son's bride did not want me wearing it to the wedding. And a gamer thought I was trolling him but didn't say boo to me. My son set him straight by telling him I never gave him a second thought. I have never noticed any movement restrictions in wearing it except trying to look down and under something. But it keeps the sun off me. I didn't know you could wet them down. I avoid wearing it in the rain because I thought it would make the material swell out of shape.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Make sure your helmet is made of pith and not a cheaper version made of cork, you should be fine :) I wanted to wear mine at my wedding but my wife said no (she got be a pocket watch to make up for it)

[@-oiiio-3993]

They are excellent rain hats.

[@georgerobinson2572]

An old soldier who served with the Durham Light Infantry during the second South African War told me that the infantrymen would wear their ammunition pouches back to front on the waist belt to prevent the cartridges falling out

[@donfelipe7510]

Pith helmets were still in use during World War I in warmer climates like the middle east and at Gallipoli. I never knew about the steeping them in water though, good little nugget of information there thanks :-)

[@warthunder_The_scalemodeler_za]

I love the movie

[@MajorSvenGaming]

it is like my favorite movie ever... the prequel Zulu Dawn is worth a watch too, but isnt as good

[@BeachsideHank]

That final stand at the redoubt has never been equaled, not even with CG effects, it is the ultimate you are there effect that is rarely captured in film. Producer: Stanley Baker (1928-1976)

[@cedricgist7614]

This is my 2nd viewing and I just appreciate your sharing this with us! Little things or big things we just accept and take for granted have a purpose and a story. You did your "bit" here!

[@jshicke]

That I did not know... Thank You.

[@lizardink2900]

In the Zulu wars, the big regimental badge was also removed, as it reflected the sunlight and could be seen very easily in the veldt.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Absolutely true... There are plenty of photos with this clearly seen. Thank you for adding this, I should have mentioned it :)

[@fooman2108]

One of the first tasks of the new British camouflage unit in the Dessert at El Alamein was to figure out how to hide something like 60,000 gallons of gasoline 5 gallon cans from the Germans in flat dessert. Upon surveying the dessert the head of the camofleurs (a former stage magician) saw four huge piles of cardboard pith helmets (they were issued to each soldier in the dessert, discarded as soon as possible, and policed up by the slightly anal retentive British army into four 70 foot piles). The head of the unit realizing that without an object to compare them in scale to he ordered the gasoline to be hidden UNDER the piles! They were able to do this at night, when the German reconnaissance flights came up the next day check the British lines (and their preparations to attack the German fortified defensive positions) they did not notice that the piles were all now over 100 feet tall! When the German reconnaissance did spot the 'piles' of gas cans (hidden under tarps to avoid evaporation, in reality TANKS and boxes arranged under the tarps), they thought the attack would come from the other end of the line where the fuel was. When the Battle was started Rommel was on medical leave and had been informed by his reconnaissance and intelligence officers that the attack would come at the inland end of the line, not the coastal end, and would not come for some weeks, so he had agreed to the leave. So those cardboard sun helmets did in fact help win WWII! LOL

[@fooman2108]

here is the book if you can find it, it nearly reads like fiction. www.amazon.com/War-Magician-David-Fisher/dp/0425062953/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517298876&sr=8-1&keywords=the+war+magician

[@marconatrix]

That is so effin crazy it must be true --- LOL!

[@fooman2108]

The book is mind boggling, not only did he hide the fuel on one end of the line, he hid the tanks and trucks on the other (made some of then look like they were the canned fuel! Some of the things he invented (like the 'sunshades' that made a parked tank look like a truck) are still in use. Swartkoff's 'right hook' in Desert Storm would not have been possible without deception tricks learned from Maskelyn's lessons.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

This is amazing... thank you, I am going to be looking into this

[@andreassjoberg3145]

Dessert is something you eat, like cakes or whipped cream with strawberries. I assume that you mean desert, a desolate wasteland where nothing grows but rocks and sand-dunes and where water is hard to come by?

[@sharondavies2685]

Very smoothly done and very engaging, Cool work stephen!!!!!

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Thank, smooth is the style I imagine I am in my head

[@rouseg54]

This is actually a 'Topi' as the soldiers knew it not a 'Pith helmet' as used by the marines bandsmen and it is still in use today. It was and still is the basic design for the British police helmet.'Cach' or Kack' (not too sure of spelling) is also Gaelic for shit.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

This I did not know... I always saw it as a pith helmet (though as I understood it was always called the foreign service helmet). Thanks, I love knowing more about this stuff :)

[@BradBrassman]

Yes, Solar Topi it was called. After 1898 they also had to produce cap badges with elongated sliders to fit in the folded hat band known as a Pagri. One or two regiments when on colonial service even made their own unofficial badges from Rupee silver such as the elite units like Bull's Troop or Eagle Troop or Mountain Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, whilst stationed along the North West Frontier.

[@ramairgto72]

Nice video, don't think I ever really got my mind around the "cover"till now. Seems like it still holds some value today.

[@ThroatSore]

It's interesting that during your video the helmet is casting a good size shadow on your face which illustrates what you're saying about how it protects you from the sun ☺

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I decided the video had to be done in the sunlight :) thanks for noticing..

[@ThroatSore]

Major Sven Gaming a pleasure. Going to sub now. ☺

[@uppitywhiteman6797]

I was surprised at the shade the helmet provided .

[@MajorRoadAhead]

As an old former Royal Marine (not a band musician) I did wear the pith helmet on a couple of ceremonial occasions. What is the name of the large brass badge on the helmet? The badge vaguely resembles a star, and I have heard it called the Brunswick Star. Am I right?

[@Mrequine1]

Don't you thow those blood spears at me in non convincing Michel Cain voice!

[@xetalq]

Not only did the soldiers stain the white FSHs khaki brown, they also removed the metal regimental badges from the front of the helmets. These tended to glint in the sun in foreign climes, and made an excellent aiming point for enemy rifle fire. This was also one of the last wars to be fought with British soldiers wearing the traditional scarlet-red coat into battle. The red coats faded as the Cape Frontier Wars wore on, and by the time the Anglo-Zulu war erupted in 1879, the Imperial soldiers had marched as much as 1,500 miles all over South Africa, before arriving at the battlefields in Zululand. hadsunlight difficult fortheirkhakiagainstwhosesimilar. practicalkhakiuniform, British 'red coat' uniform came to an end.

[@copferthat]

The white helmet might make a good target but what about a redcoat?

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Red will blend in somewhat, but it wasnt ideal. During the boar war it was obvious that the white and red was too darn impractical which is why khaki was slowly introduced

[@rodden1953]

It didnt mater what colour they wore as the range of the rifles were only about 50 yards .

[@MrDaiseymay]

SLOWLY YES---LIKE ALL THINGS THAT SAVED LIVES, THE IDIOT BRITISH TOOK AN AGE TO SPOT THE BLEEDIN OBVIOUS.

[@rodden1953]

Well the French kept their red trousers till WW1

[@stanneubert4911]

Range of those rifles was more like 500 yards if the marksman did his part, they were not using muskets anymore, even if the red coat did date from the musket days. The New Model Army of the English Civil War (1640's) were the first British Forces to wear red.

[@EvilLordBane]

You did mention the color of the helmet, which was a double edged sword. On one hand, the color reflected the suns rays, helping to keep the person wearing it cool. On the other hand, it made for a good target at distance. Typically, a solder wearing the helmet would only discolor it prior to battle, but would otherwise keep it clean.

[@WolfRichter337]

Kacke in german means shit

[@TheIndogamer]

Similar to Scheiße it seems

[@TheIndogamer]

Pretty sure he said "Khaki" as in green

[@walleece5675]

Klaus Dieter you don’t say Sherlock 🤣😂🤣😂

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Words are wonderful. Thank u all for watching

[@kevthedruid]

its cach in welsh !

[@heroedeleyenda05]

Thanks for answering this! I always wondered what was up with those weird looking helmets

[@xeonespydonum4995]

Wait, this isn't lindybeige?

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Younger... Plus less talented

[@imperialfragments]

Great video 😁 Zulu is an old favorite. Didn't know the helm could soak water and cool pretty nifty

[@spudpud-T67]

Well its an improvement for the wearer over a massive hairy bear skin.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

The Old Guard did look splendid though :)

[@charleschang3399]

Excellent explanation of 'why the pith helmet'.

[@larrymccrae6617]

Mausers made those red jackets outdated.

[@ofallseasons1]

This was the only movie I saw while in Navy Boot Camp in 1964. That had to be in our 7th week in Basic Training. Thousands of recruits were sitting on bleachers at one time out in the open. Our movie projector shined on the giant cloth white screen showing the movie on both sides at once. My side showed me the word !ULUZ but the letters faced in reverse as well. Thru my life I have seen this film presentation of Rorke's Drift bordered by Zululand. I think I dated the battle of Montidier, Noyon wrong by accident, but didn't catch it until too late! The battle took place from June 9 to the 13th of 1918. The only Great battle, that lasted 5 days, that I know of.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Amazing story here, thank you

[@JackpineGandy]

You saw a movie while in boot camp? Lucky guy! I was in Sandy Eggo in 1966 and never saw any movies except for various training classes.

[@ofallseasons1]

My company was 437. I still have my Anchor Book. I came to camp Nimitz about August 7 1964. My favorite training film involving safety procedures with William Bendix that used to play Chester A Riley in 'The life of Riley!' That movie ZULU was the only Freebie we got and was thankful for it. Where was your first assignment? Mine was down in Beeville, Texas NAS Chase Field. We worked on the old Grumman F9F-8T Cougar Trainers in VT-24. We were the Bob Cats!

[@JackpineGandy]

BE"P" school in San Diego, then off to ET "A" school at Treasure Island...a few more schools and then to the sub fleet as a reactor operator

[@GCurl]

That was really interesting! :P

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Thanks man, I am pleased you enjoyed

[@TV-hx2hz]

Very impressive engineering, I did think you'd be able to see the bright white bobbing heads a mile off and never knew they intentionally stained them but it makes perfect sense. All in all I'd give this video a rating of "presoaked coffee stained pith helmet" for being both interesting and informative, more please!

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Massive thank you Shoddy :) love the rating, more to come :)

[@Riceball01]

I believe that they dyed their suspenders and belts as well, but I could be mistaken on that.

[@rosicroix777]

Great Video. Are those Wargames factory miniatures you have in the Rourkes drift terrain ?

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Wargames and black tree design miniatures, I just really like a metal figure when I paint :)

[@rosicroix777]

I can understand liking metal minis, I got some 28mm roman & celt molds from Prince August , I mixed them w/plastic wargame factory as they are really close in height

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Very nice models... I have been debating for ages about starting a Roman and Celt collection.. My baby was born instead so money went elsewhere but I do know the next era I tackle (eventually) will be that or Roman and Carthage. A mix of metal models really makes a collect shine though

[@rickschuman2926]

That was a very pithy bit of information young sir. Good show.Nice diorama of Rourke's Drift

[@redcaddiedaddie]

Would have thought it appropriate to show the INSIDE, so we could see the webbing, etc. Do better next time...!!!

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I will try... sadly it never occurred to me :)

[@redcaddiedaddie]

OK... in re-reading my comment, it seems snarky, & I apologize.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

honestly no worries :) I am taking all the comments in... My channel is tiny and in truth I never expected anything I made to actually be seen.. this video doing so well is a shock and a surprise

[@johnstapleton1195]

I much prefer the look of the trilby, but yeah....what does the inside look like? And what kept em on their heads in a battle?

[@Cmoth040]

Col Sergeant Frank Bourne... an absolute unit. I found his character inspiring as a kid. Finding out that the character was based on a real person at an event that actually happened for the most part... that was even better. Great, now I want a Pith Helmet.

[@ethankast3617]

Quite frankly, not enough people were broad brimmed hats today. Hats are an important preventative measure against skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/clothing). I live in the United States, which gets considerably hotter than Europe, so a hat like that would actually be really practical here.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Thank you so much for watching Ethan and yes you are totally right a hat like this is a very important preventative measure, and in fact a form of this helmet is still worn by the police in some hotter countries (like Taiwan and Vietnam). I would advise getting a Bombay Bowler for general use, it looks ace and keeps you head way cooler than a cap..

[@ethankast3617]

One famous American who whore the pith helmet is President Theodore Roosevelt. He used them on his expeditions into Latin America.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I could do an entire series on Roosevelt alone, the man was a legend. Massive thank you for watching Ethan

[@ethankast3617]

I am a history major in College, so the pleasure is mine. Masterpiece Theater is making a series on Jamestown, and coincidentally I live in Virginia.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

That is very cool make the most of College.. Also really nice to hear about Jamestown, first place us English settled back in the early 1600s, sadly as a Brit I will never be able to catch it

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

That's very interesting, I did not know that! Well done old boy!

[@GreenPlantain]

Now thats a nice fucking helmet. I wonder why the british didnt keep this design until today

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Ha, thanks man, it is an amazing helm, but would have been no use when the enemy started hurling artillery there way, heck the swap in the 1900s :)

[@GreenPlantain]

fair point

[@nathanmiranda8098]

The Royal Marines use it as a part of their ceremonial uniform, and several Canadian and British Army units still use them

[@lucasart328]

Why didnt they use this shape in ww1 and ww2 and make it metal instead looks similar to the german stalhelm

[@flakoanimations6023]

It was a easy target for marks man

[@davidwhite4874]

If anybody is interested in the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, the lead up to them and their aftermath plus a fascinating history of the people and places of that part of South Africa, I'd like to recommend the book "The Washing of the Spears" by Donald Morris, which I happen to be in the middle of reading at the moment. It's fantastic.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I have the book its bloody brilliant :) I also recommend Zulu Rising and The Zulu War by Ian Knight :)

[@shody001]

Donald Morris has a lot of mistakes, parti-pris and approximations. Throw this book away, and read the book(s) of a retired colonel of the 24th, who made an extraordinary study of the battlefield and the battle. You may lose some "novel-like" style, but gain some truth. "how can man die better" from Colonel Mike Snook. Sorry for the mistakes, I'm french speaker.

[@davidwhite4874]

Serge Hody Ok, Serge.Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it. I've not heard of Colonel Snook before. I'll still finish The Washing of the Spears first, though!

[@davidwhite4874]

Major Sven Gaming I'll give them a perusal, n'all. Thanks!

[@MGOBTV]

You talk like lindybeige.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

That is an amazing compliment.. thank you he is pretty much the champ when it comes to history

[@kieranm8581]

He's not glorifying war nor British Imperialism, this is purely an educational video about the helmet.

[@royfr8136]

The Big Yin only to a none Brit

[@royfr8136]

gg h

[@CarrotConsumer]

gg Yes.

[@Paelorian]

I had no idea about the water soaking, but it makes perfect sense given the materials and design for desert climates. For the same reason it's not unusual for people to wear cotton and soak their shirt in a hot and arid place. I want to try it out in the desert! Of course, in anywhere but a hot and arid place water retention is a downside. It's only where water evaporates rapidly that you get the cooling effect.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Love it :)

[@0MohawkWarrior0]

Except he was completely wrong about that part.

[@robertzeurunkl8401]

"Men of Harlech" is a WELSH song, not an English song. just sayin'..... ;-)

[@stevenharker9440]

The British troops at Rorkes Drift were from the South Wales Borders (24th Regiment of foot) hence Men of Harlech. Stanley Baker did play up the Welsh angle in the film but it's none the worse for that.

[@adventussaxonum]

steven Harker- They were from the Warwickshire regiment. Only later did they become the SWB. Most of the men were English, but to paraphrase the film, "there were a few Welshmen in it." The great majority of VCs were also won by Englishmen... but Stanley Baker came from Ferndale, Rhondda Fach so.......

[@dulls8475]

It was mainly English soldiers not Welsh who held Rorkes Drift so Men of Harlech would not have been sung.

[@flalawdog9463]

Robert Zeurunkl, there are many versions of the lyrics for “Men of Harlech,” but the ones in Zulu were written specifically for the movie.

[@heyfitzpablum]

All sides wore pith helmets during the war in North Africa in WW2, but with a wide brim to keep the sun off better. They're light, relatively cool and they keep your face in the shade. It's all good. As for the white standing out in the sun, I would think the troops at Roarkes Drift had that covered with their bright red tunics with a white helmet at the top. Lucky for them the Zulu's were not proficient with the rifles they captured at Isandlwana or the result could have been quite different.

[@johncodmore]

Rick Rescorla, Chief of Security for Morgan Stanley's World Trade Center office, sang a Cornish adaptation of "Men of Harlech" with a bullhorn, along with other anthems, to keep employee spirits high while they evacuated during the September 11 attacks. After helping save more than 2,700 employees he returned to the towers to evacuate others until the towers collapsed on him.

[@srfrg9707]

I thought that britons had cone heads, thus the form of that helmet. What a disapointment!

[@BradBrassman]

No, sadly that's just the police whose heads do indeed go to the top of those helments!

[@DavidAWA]

I always thought Pith helmets looked ridiculous. Then I played a 19th Century English explorer out doors for a week and had one of them (reproduction of course) as part of my costume. I was immediately impressed at how cool it kept me head. Even without soaking it in water. Amazing helmet.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Agreed they look odd but they are darn comfortable :) thanks for watching

[@nirnman]

it also means shit in Irish as in "Seamus a caca" or James the shithead what they called James II after the Boyne also forgive the spelling as I am not a native Irish speaker

[@MajorSvenGaming]

This I also didn't know :) James the shithead... has a nice ring to it :)

[@nirnman]

when he fled the field upon reaching Dublin he was met by the wife of one of his Irish officers and he complained "Madam your countrymen ran away!" to which she replied, "Well I see your majesty has won the race." again the beaten Irish were so disgusted with James the offered to change generals and fight it again

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I have been reading the wiki post about this right now and love it.... Must now add it to my ever growing list of video ideas :) genuie thank you for letting me know :) (also wiki link for any further readers looking to learn) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamite_War_in_Ireland

[@OtherBlokeDownThePub]

And in Dutch it's "Kak".

[@melaniesmith1313]

Amazing design! Thanks for posting!

[@RidicAcidic]

I'll stick to my Fedora, thank you very much.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Ha, agreed much more practical nowdays..

[@kieranm8581]

M'lady

[@pyroparagon8945]

Kieran M'Zulu

[@notablegoat]

Oog...

[@archiepowell7932]

TheRidiculousFedora okay m’lady

[@cesarjeanlouischarlesgomzd28]

I love the Uniform of the 24th regiment of the Anglo-Zulú war, specially the pith helmet, sorry if I have mistakes, I spek Spanish :)

[@sparx180]

Used during the Boer War whereby they set up the first concentration camps!

[@MajorSvenGaming]

I do want to make a video on the British concentration camps at some point.

[@brian.deller8313]

s long as it is accurately and historically portrayed well, but many Boer (white Afrikaans farmers) women & children died in the British concentration camps due to the prisoners bad hygeine habits, We must remember they were there to stop them providing food and succour from the farmhouses, which were destroyed by the British, to the Boer Kommandos fighting the British soldiers and while I am very critical of the Empire building of the British in Queen Victoria's time, civilisation was gradually forced on the Third Worlders which has lasted until those of European stock who became white Africans and brought much added value and prosperity to Africa until the Communists propaganda-ed a return to black African values and miseries except for the war-lord leaders. Zimbabwe is a prime example with South Africa now taking the same path to misery. Do not forget to praise Emily Hobhouse who brought much relief to the prisoners. The Arikaners were beneficial for the indigenous Africans and did not enslave them and only fought them when they attacked the European Protestant settlers who had been driven out of Europe by Roman Catholic persecution and genocides. Google the "Saint Bartholomews Day Massacre" and The Hugenots.

[@theenglishman9596]

#chloeTrue and again it goes to show how inventive we Great Britain's are and justified in doing so

[@aquaticzombie4369]

You should watch lindybeige's video on the boer war and the concentration camps

[@sparx180]

Brian and Maria True. Excellent comment but what about the Dutch?

[@_antknee_]

Filipino forces during world war 2 still used pith helmets on combat. :)

[@MrMetonicus]

I had a Marine Corps pith helmet in highschool. Loved it.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Just awesome :)

[@kpadmirer]

I had a khaki one that was issued to the Marines during the Spanish-American War. Paid $50 for it at a gun show and sold it for $350 several years later.

[@davidd7940]

Militaries around the world generally follow the fashions of the leading power. In Europe in the second half of the 19th century that was Prussia. Prussian victories made the spiked helmet popular. The pith helmet was a tropical variation of the British home service helmet.

[@jimcraig9882]

Brilliant video old chap

[@mikekemp9877]

zulu dawn had the stained helmets though in zulu they are pristine white

[@neilgoloy3582]

Extremely informative, I must say. I've got one of those, the khaki one. Thank you so much!

[@alwoodsmodellingmayhem]

I had to subscribe as I enjoy this kind of site, have played historical wargaming and wellllll, Zulu is the best film ever. :-) Looking forward to going through your other videos sir. Al

[@ariesden8410]

Simple and super effective design!

[@MajorSvenGaming]

It really was a cool design that gave alot back :)

[@DerSpiess11]

Like the Bobby helmet, it made the wearer look taller, the Wolseley pith helmet that replaced it, gave the wearer better sun protection, but didn't look as cool.

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

In the movie Zulu, the Zulus are getting revved-up for battle by repeating the chant "Zoo-wah-zee" (my interpretation). In the movie Gladiator (Russell Crowe), The Germanians are revving to fight the Romans and are using the same chant. Coincidence or homage?

[@Detson404]

Idk about Britain, but in the USA we still use khaki to refer to that shade of brown, or more generally to men's trousers, which are often but not necessarily khaki colored.

[@blattymeow]

Cool history I would have not guess they stored liquid. Also neat to use brown colors for tactics.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

Yeah they are a fantastic design. After the zulu war all Helmets were issued brown anyway to make them stand out less :)