 When 2nd Suffolk were stationed in Ireland in 1914, their primary working dress was khaki.
However as a Home Service Battalion, their headdress would have included the distinctive blue cloth spiked helmet. Normally, it would have been worn with the scarlet frock and dark blue trousers on 'high days and holidays' but it was also to be worn as part of the khaki working dress if the situation arose. In the troubled days following the affair at the Curragh, it is highly probably that Lieut-Col. Brett, may have ordered its wearing, especially should they have been asked to proceed against Ulster - if for no other reason that to look a bit more menacing! Seen above two years before, Private Middleton is on guard at Brinkinault Colliery, Chirk, wearing the imposing spiked Home Service helmet. Perhaps it's appearance did the trick. The strike resided and the men returned to work an few days after 2nd Suffolk arrived. Ludicrous and impracticable you might say, but the enemy that they were soon to face also wore spiked hats! Comments are closed.
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Welcome to our online 'chronicle' that charted the history of the many battalions of the Suffolk Regiment throughout their service during the Great War.
This record is now closed, but we have retained all our original posts here for you to search through and in the fullness of time, we hope to add to it as and where new stories come to light. It was at times, a challenging but rewarding endeavour which has helped many people in their research of the Regiment. If you know the specific month of an action of the Regiment, you can search for it in the list below: Archives
February 2025
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