Sun helmet discussion for DAK Historians

[Jos L C]

While the search continues maybe it would be nice to indentify some other types of piths to keep this thread going ?

I think it would be nice to know all these types and later on if you need some reference you only have to search for this thread ..

I must say I've seen some other piths of which I don't know what country they belong to..

In the meantime we keep looking for the "Dutch" mystery , right ..?!

Jos.

A waffled type worn by a general ..
What country should I think of .. ?

[Jos L C]

same type, but smooth..


Jos.

[John Hodgin]

same type, but smooth..


Jos.

Italian Jos.

[John Hodgin]

Gents:
The helmet shown below is a made in South Africa. The "U" with the small arrow above it is a wartime marking used on South African equipment. The arrow is called the 'broad arrow' mark and appears on all British/Commonwealth Army uniforms and equipment.

A larger version of the "U" containing the arrow is upside down and to the upper right of the 1943 date. This is the more commonly seen version of this stamp

Prior to 1943, naval forces would have had an Admiralty anchor stamp.

Brits have the arrow alone; Canada has the arrow within the "C"; India above the "I"; between "AF" for Austrlian Forces; between "NZ" for New Zealand, etc.

May we see the exterior?
Thanks.

[Jos L C]

It's the African helmet I posted , John .

Jos.

[Jos L C]

... and this one ?

It's not the African type IMO..


Jos.

[danpower]

This is a pith I picked up a year or so ago that they said was a dutch one. It may help or not with this post. I have a few piths not german made and my take on it is that when the troops were at a port of call on their way to Africa they picked up may different pith style helmets with there own funds because they thought they needed them. IMO this is why we see so many different styles in all the pic. Yes some were war taken but if you look at all the pic. on piths why do they have the german pith shields on them? How I see it they liked the other ones better than the german style and took there pith shields off of the issued ones and put them on these. Think about it how did they have pith shields and no piths. I just think they took what they needed with them buy, take, or plunder witch ever one worked. Maybe some one can read this stamp on this pith and it may help.

[danpower]

outsite

[Scott-W]

Is that adler gold? KM then? And the front-mounted adler device on the one behind it,too NICE...

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Dan

Thats a super nice KM Pith. Made in Marseille. Agree in general that the use of various makers from several Country's contributed to the stock of Piths. The Pith that started this thread is supposed to be Dutch ? Check this thread out.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=238195

This were issued in Germany Easter April '41 before deployment to Afrika to some of the 15th.
But the question still remains how did they get them and from whom ?

Jos, that LW pith appears to also be South African.

[Mark Gibson]

The picture in the link posted by Tim shows that it wasn't just individuals deciding that they liked this particular style and purchasing them. These were issued enmasse to units in Europe.
South African or Dutch? The question is still to be answered but I know that we will eventually find a German issued example that will answer this question. It's just a matter of when.

Mark

P.S. It is a great looking group portrait photo and who ever owns it is a very lucky fellow

[afrikasandman]

I do think that piths are an under rated field of collecting. Seriously a field all of their own, a ton of variations, but all awesome to own! Matt

[Jos L C]

The " Marseille" helmet appears to be a French blue 4 panel helmet..


Jos.

[John Hodgin]

The " Marseille" helmet appears to be a French blue 4 panel helmet..
Jos.

Indeed, it is French.

[danpower]

Good to here from you Tim.

After seeing that pic. in the thread you posted I do see that they were issued headgear. I think that is the largest set of nongerman piths I have ever seen in one pic. I know this is no help on the dutch piths but that is a great pic. Thanks for the info on the one I posted.

And Matt that new baby is a doll. Keep your head down and come home soon.