Strange item from Fea market

**kradman** · 10-02-2016, 12:37 PM

Picked up this item on the fea market with some British ww1/ww2 items , i was thinking maybe some sort of padding for horse riders ? anyone seen anything like this before ? thank you for any help

**helmet2id** · 10-02-2016, 12:42 PM

An adult diaper? Just kidding - no idea Andy.

**Roger M** · 10-03-2016, 09:10 AM

Possibly protective garment for fencing ? (swords, not planks of wood)

**kradman** · 10-03-2016, 09:32 AM

Ok thank you came in with some 1930s British Army warm weather clothing

**karkee** · 10-03-2016, 05:27 PM

This is so cool Kradman! I wish I had one!

It is called a spine pad and was worn on the back to prevent sun stroke (erroneously). They were widely used during the Great War, but some officers continued to wear them up to the start of WWII. The stamps denote that it was made in India, and the one should have a manufacture date.

**paulp4180** · 10-04-2016, 10:59 AM

by karkee

This is so cool Kradman! I wish I had one!

It is called a spine pad and was worn on the back to prevent sun stroke (erroneously). They were widely used during the Great War, but some officers continued to wear them up to the start of WWII. The stamps denote that it was made in India, and the one should have a manufacture date.

Thanks for this karkee, very interesting. Never heard of these before!! So a quick google later:

British Army Spine Pads | Military Sun Helmets

**kradman** · 10-04-2016, 12:02 PM

Thank you Karkee a new one for me to never heard of them before

**karkee** · 10-05-2016, 05:31 AM

I'm glad to help identify it...I thought Warspite would beat me to it!

I think this stamp on your spine pad relates to the maker and the date. I suspect that the "SH" refers to the Shahjahanpore Clothing Factory, which was very active during the Interwar years. The two blurry numbers on the lower line should be the month and year of manufacture...