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DateOriginal Topic
1st January 2002Quartermasters headware
By Alex Rossiter
Hello All
Would the quartermaster at isandlwana have worn the tropical helmet like the infantry
Thanks for help
DateReplies
2nd January 2002Glenn Wade
Hi Alex! I think the quatermasters at Isandlwna would have worn the peaked forage cap or the glengarry. Hope this helps Alex. Glenn.
3rd January 2002Alex Rossiter
Thankyou for help Glen,hows your isandlwana diorama coming on
3rd January 2002Greg
Alex,I think you`d get away with any of the above , I think on campain people like Quartermasters, officers, dressed for comfort.Take Lt Bromhead at Rorkes Drift .He wore a OR`s tunic with no insignia . It does spoil the image of the ammaculately dressed and turned out image that the artists of the period left us. Keep us all informed on the diorama.
5th January 2002Barry Iacoppi
On the subject of what was worn in the many fine Zulu wars paintings I must add this. When I shoot my Martini Henry rifles I ware a repro pith helmet. Now this does get a laugh from the other lads on the range but most see it as no different to wearing a stetsan when shooting �cowboy guns�.
Much as I like my helmet I have found that in the prone and kneeling position it is very difficult to shoot in. The front peak drops low and just interferes with my line of sight. One is constantly pushing the helmet to the back of the head but it works forward with every shot fired. Prone is worst of all. It is almost impossible in that position to keep the peak from blocking the sights.
When I reported this to the chaps on the Martini Forum I was told that the Victorian soldiers had the same problem and found that putting the helmet on backwards helped.
They also said that many photographs have been taken of soldiers with their helmets on back to front. Chances are that many of the brave lads at the Drift would have had their helmets on backwards. This would have given Sgt Bourne at lot of opportunities to use his famous line � Where do you think you are lad�.
Of course painting of the time do not show this.
Next time at the range I�ll have to give it a go.