Hi all, I am interested to know what headgear the Indian troops wore. I understand it was a mix of soft hats, the comforters, helmets and turbans, but am interested to find out the breakdown (ie did whole companies or battalions wear turbans or was there a mix of headgears within these units). Any information or links much appreciated! Cheers Simon The IA used a whole and to the uninitiated bewildering variety of headgear ranging from turbans of various styles, berets, soft hats, tin hats, comforters and even shakos (for the Madras Sappers). The type of headgear depended entirely on the ethnic class recruited in the unit. All members of an ethnic class wore the same headgear. Within ethnic classes various types of heagear were specific to different regiments. For instance Hindu Jats in the Jat Regiment might wear the Jat style turban or the Kullah wali Pagri. Hindu Jats in the Rajputana Rifles tied the Rajasthani Safa.
First time I've seen such headgear in the context of WW 2. Looks a lot like the post-1966 pattern field service cap of the IA, popularly known as the Jap Cap, with the addition of neck protection. The soldier in the middle is obviously a Sikh. The other two ? Are they really Indians ? Could be Chinese. Do we have a enlargement to check on the detail ? According to text they are soldiers from 20th Indian Division and photo is taken on the railway station in Prome. You can find this photo on IWM site. Here you have another photo of soldiers in Prome with same headgear. They are identify as Chines but as far as I know only Indian units were in that area during 1945 (off course this maybe isn't Prome at all). Also I found reference of 14/13th FFR, also from 20th Indian Division, worn this type of cap during Irrawaddy crossing in a book. Maybe they are issued in limited numbers and worn by only small number of units.
If anyone has Osprey MAA 187 British Battle Insignia 2 1939-45 look at page 37 for British officer wearing the same style hat. Captioned officers of 20th Indian Div.
If anyone has Osprey MAA 187 British Battle Insignia 2 1939-45 look at page 37 for British officer wearing the same style hat. Captioned officers of 20th Indian Div. Ah, I completely forgot to look there last night. Good find Owen. I wonder if the cap it's only used by this division, maybe some specific unit like already mentioned 14/13th FFR.
First time I've seen such headgear in the context of WW 2. Looks a lot like the post-1966 pattern field service cap of the IA, popularly known as the Jap Cap, with the addition of neck protection. The soldier in the middle is obviously a Sikh. The other two ? Are they really Indians ? Could be Chinese. Do we have a enlargement to check on the detail ? I have an article in an old Airfix Magazine that may have a bit more background on this one. Somewhere. The Dogras have their won regimental side cap, which they still use in informal dress. A bit like the Gandhi Topi used by freedom fighters and politicians ! Is it yellow or white, out of interest? The other detail I noted in the Ball of Fire photo of the Dogra's inspection is that a light band can be seen round the 'gaiters' of a couple of the sepoys. Could they be wearing puttees with a yellow tape as a dress distinction? If only we could have a Davis-style Uniforms and Insignia of the Indian Army...
According to text they are soldiers from 20th Indian Division and photo is taken on the railway station in Prome. You can find this photo on IWM site. Here you have another photo of soldiers in Prome with same headgear. They are identify as Chines but as far as I know only Indian units were in that area during 1945 (off course this maybe isn't Prome at all). Also I found reference of 14/13th FFR, also from 20th Indian Division, worn this type of cap during Irrawaddy crossing in a book. Maybe they are issued in limited numbers and worn by only small number of units. WW 2 saw quite a lot of different types of dress, equipment, weapons etc being used by Indian troops. Maybe this was a limited issue type of headgear. Entirely possible.
I have an article in an old Airfix Magazine that may have a bit more background on this one. Somewhere. Is it yellow or white, out of interest? The other detail I noted in the Ball of Fire photo of the Dogra's inspection is that a light band can be seen round the 'gaiters' of a couple of the sepoys. Could they be wearing puttees with a yellow tape as a dress distinction? If only we could have a Davis-style Uniforms and Insignia of the Indian Army... In this case regimental pattern side caps of the Dogra Regiment would be Khaki. Puttees were secured with Khaki tape which is what the sepoys are most likely to be wearing.
Now I remember I've seen pictures of a few Indian infantrymen wearing the Jap Cap style headgear with neck protection in Burma. One of the pictures did indeed show men of 14 FF Rif (14/13 Frontier Force Rifles).
Chapter and verse from Airfix Magazine, April 1980: That is a nice article idler, thanks. So one mystery solved
Sikh turban: Life Magazine 23 June 1941 see page 10 onwards. Not sure if this is Sikh Regiment or merely sikh class in another regiment - still waiting to find some good references on turban styles and how they relate to regiment and/or class.
Idler Much the same as Gerry we supported the 8th Indian Division in Italy for a time and they were on the left flank through the Liri Valley at the last push of Cassino...we learned that ONLY the Sikh battalions wore the Turban - in fact since the last or second Sikh War in the Punjab in around the 1846 era when the Sikh's decided that if you can't beat 'em - then join 'em - this brought many of them in their first contact with a British RSM - whose first order was " to get yer haircut " - this produced a great deal of wailing and nationilized teeth - as the long hair is sacred and should not be cut etc - so the Turbant was found in Turkey and accepted with the full understanding that it be kept clean - the cap badge highly polished at all times ..there is a famous photo of the sikh;s in 4th Indian Div coming out of Cassino after their usual trouncing still wearing the Turbans.......there are FIVE sacred things they hold onto - the long hair - the dagger (Kirpan)- cotton shorts and two other "K's" which I have forgotten - like many other things to-day this has been twisted out of shape inasmuch as they have succeeded in "Conning" our RCMP and motor bike authorities by saying that the TURBAN is sacred - this is NOT so as it is the uncut hair which is sacred - so they don't wear bike helmets or the Mounties Hats... Cheers
Idler - Not really optional - "times changed" in the 60's - they most certainly did as millions of Catholics gave up the Church after the nonsense of the Vatican 11Council - and no doubt many Sikh's gave up their Turbans - had their hair cut - and lapsed from their religion...and as we see all around us to-day - Morals took one hell of a beating as did Respect.....but it is called Progress ...yeah right...! Cheers
