Pith Helmets

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have to think that both the badger AND the swingin' six worn by Other Ranks were magnets for pests and dust. Keeping them in order had to be a major headache.

In June our group portrays the 7th Bn as they fought in the desert of North Africa, up to and after El Alamein. We do this at the airfield in Reading Pennsylvania, as part of the Reading Air Show. Central Pennsylvania cannot be anywhere near as hot as the desert in North Africa, yet we live on and next to the asphalt runways, and in the heat of the day it seems to us that we must be approaching those conditions--temperatures reach over 100 degrees F. We only have to do that for three days, we are not being shot at or bombarded, and our relative comfort and safety aside, I can tell you that wearing 22 oz military weight kilts and hair sporrans brings to mind the saying about Mad Dogs and Englishmen...

I really don't know how they wore wool tunics and battledress, kilts and sporrans in the desert. I would die from the heat alone, the Germans wouldn't need to do anything...

Humidity, or rather the lack of it, is a big factor.

[BobsYourUncle]

Humidity, or rather the lack of it, is a big factor.

No doubt, no doubt. Yet to this humble living historian, who grew up in the snow belt of Central New York [Buffalo/Syracuse weather system], the prospect of having to live for months/years in those conditions is just about unthinkable. Thinking about their desert service gives me at least a little bit of understanding as to why Montgomery held his forces back near Cairo for months of training, to acclimatize them to desert conditions before taking on Rommel.

[Mike_Oettle]

MacMillan of Rathdown wrote: “Humidity, or rather the lack of it, is a big factor.”

That’s exactly it. When the humidity is low, much higher temperatures are more bearable.
And the desert can also be cold at night.
Aside from those factors, heavy clothing also has its uses in the desert. The Long-Range Desert Group and others who used the tracks far south of the Mediterranean shores wore greatcoats and other clothing to wrap themselves up against the sand and the heat. Paradoxically it worked.
Regards,
Mike

[BobsYourUncle]

MacMillan of Rathdown wrote: “Humidity, or rather the lack of it, is a big factor.”

That’s exactly it. When the humidity is low, much higher temperatures are more bearable.
And the desert can also be cold at night.
Aside from those factors, heavy clothing also has its uses in the desert. The Long-Range Desert Group and others who used the tracks far south of the Mediterranean shores wore greatcoats and other clothing to wrap themselves up against the sand and the heat. Paradoxically it worked.
Regards,
Mike

You're both quite right, of course, and the photographic evidence is quite clear, showing the LRDG and SAS wearing giant wool British Army greatcoats while on road watch duty during the scorching daylight hours [see the book Band of Brigands, a great read], yet my mind still rebels at the notion...

[Biathlonman]

I have visions of ancient, pith-helmeted 90-something Germans and Brits offering themselves up to Libyan rebels as "technical experts" to the Libyan rebels - the ex-Afrika Korps men all scrawny-necked in their pith helmets, and the Brits in battered Wolseley solar topees. All hoping to pick up a bit of dosh based on their experiences with Rommel and Monty. And to buy new dentures perhaps. If you every read up about Richard Von Meinertzhagen, it isn't so impossible though.

[macwilkin]

I have visions of ancient, pith-helmeted 90-something Germans and Brits offering themselves up to Libyan rebels as "technical experts" to the Libyan rebels - the ex-Afrika Korps men all scrawny-necked in their pith helmets, and the Brits in battered Wolseley solar topees. All hoping to pick up a bit of dosh based on their experiences with Rommel and Monty. And to buy new dentures perhaps. If you every read up about Richard Von Meinertzhagen, it isn't so impossible though.

You haven't seen the new book on the Meinertzhagen (no "Von", as they were Danish) diary ruse, have you?

This post reminds me of how during the 1960s, old gentleman in Tanzania would travel to Dar-es-Salaam to collect their pension at the German embassy; the German military attache would have these old men go through the manual of arms to prove that they had served as askaris under Von Lettlow-Vorbeck in World War One.

T.

[BoldHighlander]

Great photos BobsYourUncle, thanks for the research and putting them up here

Hear! Hear!

I come back from my medically enforced absence, and find these wonderful additions to the thread. Thank you!

That’s exactly it. When the humidity is low, much higher temperatures are more bearable.
And the desert can also be cold at night.

Memories of spending early August in the High Desert of Northern Nevada....loved it!
ith:

[BobsYourUncle]

Hear! Hear!

I come back from my medically enforced absence, and find these wonderful additions to the thread. Thank you!



Memories of spending early August in the High Desert of Northern Nevada....loved it!
ith:

Thanks for the kind words! This was a great idea for a thread, and I have enjoyed it thoroughly! You may have inspired me to complete my Boer War Argyll impression...

[Mike M.]

You haven't seen the new book on the Meinertzhagen (no "Von", as they were Danish) diary ruse, have you?

This post reminds me of how during the 1960s, old gentleman in Tanzania would travel to Dar-es-Salaam to collect their pension at the German embassy; the German military attache would have these old men go through the manual of arms to prove that they had served as askaris under Von Lettlow-Vorbeck in World War One.

T.

It says a lot that the Germans would honor those pensions after losing two world wars. But those askaris were fine fighting men. Von Lettlow-Vorbeck gave the British fits.

[Bigkahuna]

If you want Highlanders in pith helmets, watch "Gunga Din".