Pith Helmets

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 2nd February 11, 10:04 PM

I, for one, would be suspicious of a purveyor of pith helmets that didn't know the difference between "puttees" (which are wrapped around the lower leg), and a "puggree", (a light scarf which is wrapped around the crown of a helmet to protect the wearer from sword blows to the head). Just doesn't seem pukka to me.

**BoldHighlander** · 2nd February 11, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

I, for one, would be suspicious of a purveyor of pith helmets that didn't know the difference between "puttees" (which are wrapped around the lower leg), and a "puggree", (a light scarf which is wrapped around the crown of a helmet to protect the wearer from sword blows to the head). Just doesn't seem pukka to me.

Ah, well, I wouldn't let that disqualify them (yet)

**BoldHighlander** · 2nd February 11, 10:39 PM

:soda: :mrgreen:

ith:

**Whidbey78** · 2nd February 11, 11:01 PM

I'm thinking about getting one. I'd never actually wear it. I'm more if an Indy Jones fedora kinda person. I wouldn't mnd one on the wall as a conversation piece though.

**English Bloke** · 3rd February 11, 12:42 AM

Here's a link to Military style Pith hemets (Think Michael Caine):
here.
and here.

I've got one of these pith helmets although I don't wear it much it must be said:

And the issue slouch hat from these chaps (bottom right) has been on my wish-list for about four years, although there are some smashin' hats elsewhere on this site if you're into bush hats.

**Downunder Kilt** · 3rd February 11, 12:59 AM

English Bloke you are absolutly spot on with that vison of Michael Caine in a pith helmet in Zulu. The epitome of a British officer of the time.

**Downunder Kilt** · 3rd February 11, 01:28 AM

The man himself

**Biathlonman** · 4th February 11, 11:52 AM

As most of us in N. America contemplate the vast expanses of snow (Quelque arpents du neige, said Voltaire, wrongly summing up this continent) that hit almost all of us his week, I can only faintly imagine being somewhere hot and sunny enough to wear one of these (my choice would be to opt for the Boer War style) at a hot weather kilted occasion. Wouldn't some heat go great now?

Far better than a glen or Balmoral in the heat, that's for sure. But I'd favour the military look, rather than the pukka sahib colonial administrator or VC Charlie look.

One can find photos of Highland soldiers wearing kilts and pith helmets with the pyramids in the background - if one wants a current affairs/Egyptian tie in.

Quite comfortable in the desert sun I'd bet.

**Downunder Kilt** · 4th February 11, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Biathlonman

Far better than a glen or Balmoral in the heat, that's for sure. But I'd favour the military look, rather than the pukka sahib colonial administrator or VC Charlie look.

Just a point on the reference to the "VC charlie look". The pith helmet was never part of the viet cong uniform. it was though, part of the North Vietnamese Army uniform. The V.C. were a form a militia and commonly wore what has been refered to a the "black pyjamas" with a floppy hat.