WW1 British Pith battle flash help needed

[1corps]

Guys, I picked up this neat helmet that verbal communication was it was at Gallipoli. Since there was no documentation associated I judged and purchased solely on being a WW1 British pith helmet. I need help to ID the battle flash on the side. Have been doing some limited research and really haven't found much useful info. Can anyone ID or help with any info on it. Thanks for your help in advance! Mike.

P.S. - The helmet is really used and in rough shape. Would be awesome if anyway to really link to Gallipoli!

[1corps]

#2

[1corps]

#3 - Double post, sorry!!

[1corps]

#4

[1corps]

#5

[cbuehler]

The unit flash is very faded, but it is for the RAF and circa late 1920's or 30's.
The helmet itself may well be of earlier vintage however.

CB

[1corps]

CB, thanks for your help. Not what I was hoping for but I figured it was probably too good to be true anyway. Glad I bought it on face value and not "verbal" history. The helmet is pretty neat and I always liked them. Does the RAF flash bring any decent value to it? Any other comments would be greatly appreciated also! Thanks, Mike.

[Old Smelly]

Although the flash is similar in colour, I'm not 100% certain that it is RAF, I'll check a couple of my books
Lee

[Bond]

I posted my 1920/30's private purchase with a similar flash and most people agree with it being RAF, though not everyone. Yours is probably pre 1925, as a new method of sweatband/liner was introduced during that year, or so I have read. Has it got any sign of a stamp behind the leather S/band?

Is the S/band/liner mounted with little slit pins and can be remoced, or is it riveted to the helmet?

Jerry

[1corps]

Although the flash is similar in colour, I'm not 100% certain that it is RAF, I'll check a couple of my books
Lee

Lee, thanks! I look forward to your info! Mike.

[1corps]

Jerry, thanks for the pics and info. The flash on mine does look different in color and lay-out though heavily worn then the one you show. The center band is thinner then the others on mine & it looks more yellow than white. It doesn't look soiled white either, just yellow. I will check the sweatband more closely when I am home later tonight. Here are a few more pics I had sent to my work computer. Mike.

[BrentNunns]

I agree with Lee, my own WW2 RAF helmet has a side flash of blue, white and red.
Red, white and blue were French airforce colours, so I would think that it would be unlikely that either of the helmets would be RAF.
I am interested to hear what Lee’s books have to say.
Brent

[1corps]

Jerry, I cannot find any markings on the interior of the sweatband. The liner looks as if it cannot be replaced. I actually cannot see how it is attached, there are no pins that I see or have access to to try and remove the liner. They must be hidden under the cloth. Mike.

[Bond]

Jerry, I cannot find any markings on the interior of the sweatband. The liner looks as if it cannot be replaced. I actually cannot see how it is attached, there are no pins that I see or have access to to try and remove the liner. They must be hidden under the cloth. Mike.

Your pith does look early and has to be pre 1925, and could be WWI. The markings, especialy on a well worn example would often no longer be visible. They usually show the WD arrow and a date, which would have been good if they had been present.

Its a good and old pith and very likely was issued in WWI and then saw continued service postwar, maybe. It is the or's type with the cloth edging trim, rather than the leather trim as seen on my officers PP example.

Here is my 1942 pith for comparison.

Jerry

[1corps]

Jerry, yours is a real beauty. Thanks for kind remarks on mine. The leather sweatband is dark and I will have to really look hard to see if any faint markings are there. Thanks for the great info. I am very curious on what Lee finds on the flash. I would be very happy if it turns out to be WW1 and the flash would just be icing. The Brit piths are really cool and I always liked them. This one is really rough and definitely saw some hard service. Could the flash be commonwealth if not RAF? It came from another collector in New Zealand. Thanks again! Mike.