The blue cloth-covered home service helmet was worn from 1878 but this example has the badge of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, dating it from 1887. It was worn by the rank-and-file, differing from the better quality helmet worn by officers. The most easily recognised difference is the round front peak, edged with leather, while the officers had pointed peaks edged with gilt metal.
The badge is a brass crowned star, of universal pattern for the British Line Infantry, but with the regimental white metal badge fixed to the front. The brass spike on top was also universal, except in the artillery where a ball-shape was worn. The helmet was discontinued in 1904 when all ranks adopted the Kilmarnock bonnet.
The photo is reproduced by kind permission of Hiram Dunn from his book Borderers in Uniform from 1689 (Published 2018).
