First Surrey Rifles

This is an officer's helmet from the First Surrey Rifles dating from the early 1860s, almost 20 years before the home service helmet was introduced in 1878. Possibly an experimental version of the home service helmet, the unit wore these helmets as part of their uniform from 1861 to at the latest the 1870s where they appear to have switched to a different style of headress. The unit was formed in 1859 as part of the French invasion scare and possibly moved away from the traditional, and more French, shako, adopting the more germanic looking spiked helmet. I have been able to find two prints of the First Surrey Rifles with the helmets.

Its design bears so many similarities to the home service helmet it is hard to believe that they are not connected. The chin chain is identical to what is seen on home service helmets. The method of attachment is also the same, having the chain attached by a closed loop to a lions head "rosette" on the left side, with the option of either attaching the other end to a similar lions head "rosette" with a hook on the right side or a hook on the upper rear of the helmet so as to rap diagonally around the helmet. The leather trim along the edges of the bottom of the helmet is also identical to the leather trim on home service helmets. The spike base and its four rosette attachments are also incredibly similar to that of the home service helmet. Last but not least, I can't help but notice that the red silk liner with green Morocco leather underneath the front and rear peaks are characteristic features of the home service helmet.

From the home service helmet's unbelievable continuity of these traits, it is certain that the helmet of the first Surrey's inspired aspects of the home service helmet if not its design altogether.

The helmet is in perfect condition. Its skull is constructed of one piece, pressed black fur felt with a front and rear peak. The helmet plate, like all of the helmets fittings, beautifully retains its guilt. For the plate, a bugle with a "1" in the center rests on a First Surrey Rifles circlet surrounded by a split wreath, all surmounted by a Victorian crown. The only other regiment I know of which has a split wreath is the West India Regiment. The plate is attached to the helmet by screws. Directly behind the plate is a whole cut into the felt for air flow. The rear of the helmet also has a small hole air circulation. The inside of the helmet also boasts a manufacturer's label for W. Smith & Son. On the front peak under the plate is a small decorative chain-like band in guilt running from the the left Lions head rosette to the right. There are also two decorative rosettes, one on each side of the skull.