- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Pith helmet covered in cloth coated in white powder (blanco). [FB 26/03/2012]
- Long description
- Pith helmet covered in cloth coated in white powder (blanco). The helmet is bound with cotton textile around the outside. The inside of the helmet is constructed from woven basketry and has a manufacturers label attached printed with 'ROWE & CO LD RANGOON' [the rest of the print is difficult to read]. There is a band of leather attached to the inside of the helmet around the bottom of the woven basketry construction The rim of the helmet is lined with cotton textile and the helmet has an adjustable leather chin strap with metal buckle. [FB 26/03/2012]
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1915/6
- Date collected
- 1915/6
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 02/02/2012
- Materials and processes
- Material Plant Fibre, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Plant Pith, Process Woven, Process Stitched, Process Glued, Process Basketry
- Dimensions
- Diameter: max 330 mm, Height: max 190 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 2012.21.1
- Research and responses
Extract from biography of Charles Wadham Lyne, written by his Grandson Charles Lyne: "The exact detail of his early working life is not recorded, but in the early years of the 20th century Wadham was working in missions in the East End of London, helping to educate and train some of the poorest boys through movements such as the Boys' Brigade and the Boy Scouts. In the middle of this decade, while Europe was in the middle of the most savage war ever, Wadham sailed out to Burma (via Bombay) as a Christian Missionary. As a working member of the Church, Wadham was undoubtedly appalled by the slaughter in the trenches of Flanders and elsewhere, which most likely would have included many of the young men he'd worked with in the East End. Burma had different challenges for him, and a very different climate. In Burma, we know from family photos and paintings that Wadham moved around the country, visiting outlying villages as well as the larger cities. Here he did much the same sort of work he'd been doing in the in the East End: helping to set up Boy Scout troops and ministering to people as and where he could, making use of his medical kit where necessary. A pith helmet seemed to be the standard headgear for Europeans (both military and civilians) in these climates: light in weight weight as well as colour, it reflected much of the heat of the sun and, through its design, allowed the head to breathe. Wadham travelled the country taking photographs, and when he had time, painting delicate watercolours of the exotic countryside, culture and historic temples. In due course, Wadham's time in Burma ended and he returned to England to become the curate at a church in Barnet..." [FB 26/03/2012]
The white substance that can be seen on the outside of the helmet is 'blanco', a compound used by British soldiers (and Commonwealth troop of various nations). The compound was used from 1880 to whiten British Army Slade Wallace buckskin leather equipment then adapted to coloured versions for use on the cotton Web Infantry Equipment, Pattern 1908 webbing used in World War I and beyond the Web Equipment '37 Pattern during the Second World War, though rarely outside of the United Kingdom and Europe. Blanco was used throughout both World wars, into the period of National Service and into the 1980s by cadets and the Territorial Army. [FB 26/03/2012]
The label inside the helmet (PRM 2012.21.1) tells us it was bought from 'Rowe & Co'.
Rowe & Co Ltd was one of the British colonial 'emporia' or department stores in Yangon (Rangoon). Established in 1866, it published a 300-page illustrated catalog four times annually, exhibiting wares from its various departments. Its flagship building in Yangon still stands today but is largely derelict. [FB 04/05/2012]
Such was the popularity of the pith helmet that it became a common civilian headgear for westerners in the tropics & sub-tropics from the mid-19th century. The civilian pith helmet usually had the same dimensions and outline as its contemporary military counterpart though it lacked decorative extras such as badges. It was worn by men and women, old and young, both on formal and casual occasions, until the 1940s. Both, white and khaki versions were used. It was often worn together with civilian versions of khaki drill and/or bush jackets. Until the 1950s there was a widespread assumption that wearing this form of head-dress was necessary for people of European origin to avoid sunstroke in the tropics. By contrast, indigenous peoples were assumed to have acquired a relative immunity. Modern medical opinion holds that some form of wide brimmed but light headwear (such as a Panama hat etc.) is highly advisable in strong sunlight for people of all races to avoid skin cancers and overheating.(Wikipedia entry). [FB 26/03/2012]
- Associated publications
- Facebook post entry March 28: This pith helmet and medical bag (PRM 2012.21.1-.2) were donated by Mr Charles Lyne. They belonged to his grandfather, Rev. Charles Wadham Lyne (1875–1960) who worked in Burma as a missionary from 1916 to 1919. A pith helmet seemed to be the standard headgear for Europeans (both military and civilian) in the hot climate of Asia: light in weight as well as colour, it reflected much of the heat and sun, and its design allowed the head to breathe. The contents of the medical kit (PRM: 2012.21.2) including common preparations of for the time: tannic acid to treat burns or poisoning, boric acid used as an antiseptic, and gum tragacanth to bond dental plates. The label inside the helmet (PRM 2012.21.1) tells us it was bought from 'Rowe & Co'. Rowe & Co Ltd was one of the British colonial 'emporia' or department stores in Yangon (Rangoon). Established in 1866, it published a 300-page illustrated catalog four times annually, exhibiting wares from its various departments. Its flagship building in Yangon still stands today but is largely derelict. [FB 29/05/2012]
Search terms: Clothing Headgear, Helmet, Headgear, Hat
