A quick look for the moment, the white helmet looks like the pattern "officially authorised for wear by all ranks throughout the Empire" as of June 1877 (the Wolsely Helmet became a sealed pattern in 1899 and was initially worn by officers before being adopted for wear by Other Ranks).
The 1877 pattern FSH -
"Made of cork covered in white cloth with six panels. Peaks and sides were bound in white cloth, with a one-inch wide piece of cloth sewn around the headband above the peaks, this being covered by a pugaree......."
There's debate concerning the wear of chin chains and spikes as opposed to leather chinstrap and white cloth covered button but its stated in the book that while the British army didn't typically wear spikes or helmet plates, more commonly wearing pugaree flashes it appears that the Royal Marine units did wear helmet plates and spike or ball.
|