Wolsey helmets in WW2

[Genialjim]

Hi,

Does any one know if Wolsey helmets where ever warn in combat in WW2?  I know Indian pattern helmets where used in Malaya and Iraq and have seen images of South Africans in their version of a pith helmet in East Africa. There are pictures of British troops in the Levant in Wolsey helmets but I assume these are propaganda shots.

[carlos marighela]

Hi,

Does any one know if Wolsey helmets where ever warn in combat in WW2?  I know Indian pattern helmets where used in Malaya and Iraq and have seen images of South Africans in their version of a pith helmet in East Africa. There are pictures of British troops in the Levant in Wolsey helmets but I assume these are propaganda shots.

I have a vague memory that Wolseley pattern helmets were issued for the aborted invasion of Dakar in 1941.

[Genialjim]

Cheers in shall see what I can find

[Arthur]

The Wolseley helmet was issued in 1941 to some Free French units campaigning in East Africa and the Levant, particularly the 13th DBLE which appears to have worn them in action in Eritrea :

   


British tin hats became the most common form of headgear after Syria, but the occasional Wolseley helmet can still be seen in pics showing French légionnaires at Bir Hakeim in 1942.

[lou passejaire]

was worn mostly by the "Bataillon d'infanterie de Marine" ...
the unit was equiped with british stuff after escaping from Vichy held Syria in 1940 .



the wolseley was also worn by the British Forces who acted from Irak in the north-east Syria during operation Exporter ( i have somewhere pics of British Cavalry in Wolesley , need to search ) ...

[Genialjim]

Fellows thats fantastic cheers for posting. Lou that phot of the cavalry sound great.

Regards

[Arthur]

The Warwickshire Yeomanry in Syria :

[Arthur]

And now for some Englishmen in Iraq...

British troops near Baghdad, 1941:



British troops near Ramadi that same year :

[carlos marighela]

Some more being worn by Free French on the 1940 Dakar expedition, from about 3.20 on:



Interesting mix. Some Wolseleys, what may be some French tropical helmets and some Wolseleys in light khaki covers, something I'd not seen before. Fairly sure that the Royal Marines were wearing same.