Accession Number

E112

Alternate Name

pith helmet

Description

A white military officer-cadet's pith-type helmet, the hard shell covered in canvas and covered in a white substance resembling paint, the golden-coloured metal finial concealing a ventilating vent.

Narrative

This helmet was used by at least one officer-cadet while he attended Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The badge on the front of the helmet is the third version issued, dating this helmet at somewhere between 1901 and 1940. Aside from badge design, the helmet is identical to the type worn by Robert Dunsmuir Harvey (1878-1901) when he was an officer-cadet at RMC Kingston from 1896-1899. It also strongly resembles the helmet he is depicted wearing in The Castle Society's painting of him on horseback in India. It was acquired for this reason. (See:https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/121)

Date

circa 1920 – 1939

Material

Metal; Fabric