I came across this post on a Facebook group "The Canadian Militia 1855-1914." This is not my area of interest, but I know several of you are interested in the later Victorian era and this seemed like an interesting story.

"The dark blue Home Service Helmet is perhaps the most iconic piece of military kit associated with the late Victorian era. It might come as a surprise that it was never worn, en masse or in all its glory, on active service. That is except for during the campaign to quell the North-West Rebellion of 1885. This didn't involve any British troops (save certain individual commanders) and the campaign was overwhelmingly prosecuted by men of the 'Non-Permantent, Active Militia', Canada's part time, citizen Army of the era... The even smaller, but regular 'Permanent, Active Militia' also soldiered in the West.

The Home Service Helmet was never fully issued in Canada and indeed the only issued headdress in the mid 1880s was the glengarry in the always underfunded and under equipped Militia battalions. That said, some units wishing to present a more professional appearance raised funds and purchased the 'authorized but not supplied' Home Service Helmet for their men. It was these examples that found their way onto active service when the call went out for men to participate in the Campaign.

The Miliita forces gathered were numerous (for the time) and represented units from all over the young Dominion. Many Militia Battalions were well off, able to contribute enough men by themselves and deployed as stand alone battalions whilst other, less strong Battalions sent smaller detachments which were grouped into 'Provisional' Battalions. One such was the "Midland Provisional Battalion' formed from a number of more rural Ontario units.

Some, but not all, of the grouped detachments seem to have deployed with their helmets.

They are surprisingly seen in many photographs both during the 'mounting phase' the campaign, and during the movements and operations on the prairie. There is no specific, irrefutable reference of the helmet's use at the eventual, decisive battle of the campaign at Batoche, but artwork of the era does show it worn.

The Home Service Helmet completes an interesting picture of the military forces of Canada in the mid 1880s. Never fully equipped in the sense of say, the Regular British Army, it was born of the same mould though continued to be equipped with old, often worn out equipment and weapons.

By the mid 80s the Snider was long replaced in British service by the Martini and the old fashioned pouch belt and knapsack equipment had similarly been replaced by the Pattern 71 and Pattern 82 Valise Equipment. Both of these would be used in small numbers during the campaign, though the vast majority of troops went west in their full dress tunics of either scarlet, green or blue (vs the appropriate frock), '56 Pattern knapsacks with their wooden stiffening boards, 50 round ammunition pouches, 61 Pattern 'ball bags' and of course, the Snider.

A series on the events of 1885 will 'eventually' come to the Channel.

*** Please excuse the incorrect placement of the hooked-up chin chain.. It should be hooked up on the right of the helmet not the left (it had fallen off and I inadvertently put it back on the wrong hook..!)***"

Brendan