Please help ID pith helmet

[Gene T]

I picked this one up at a local antiques mall. It doesn't appear to be an issued helmet, as it is completely unmarked other than the maker labels. However, the fact that it is a Hobson & Sons product made me think that it may be a privately purchased military item rather than a civilian hat.




I know next to nothing about pith helmets, but vaguely recall reading here that there were numerous models in use by the British and Commonwealth troops before this style of headgear went out of fashion. Can this one here be one of those more obscure models? If so, when might it have been worn and by whom? Above everything else, I am intrigued by the blue puggaree. Does that have any significance?

Thanks for any and all input!


Gene T

[Bond]

Very nice solar topee/pith, but the dark trim to the brim is unlike any I have seen that were military issue or private purchase for military use, so civilian IMO.

Regards,

Jerry

[Peter_Suciu]

This is sometimes called "the Standard Pattern" and was popular as a civilian model. For reasons that should be obvious most civilians didn't care for the Wolseley helmet.

These were commonly private purchase by officers in Egypt prior to, and during WWII. But I think this could likely be post-WWII and the puggaree has a civilian look, to make it appear more "fashionable."

[Gene T]

Makes sense. Thank you both very much! So Hobson & Sons had a civilian retail side to their business as well? Until today I have been under the impression that they were exclusively a uniform supplier.

One learns something new everyday here...


Gene T