Pith helmets Belgium

[wizardman]

Thanks mate, i just find it really interesting.And i too am after some German Imperial Piths lol

[stuka f]

Here is a close up of the special helmet plate, it is the little star in the upper right corner that makes it so hard to find.
Only used from 1885 to 1908, by a low number of men.

[Shadwellarmy]

What a beauty!

Kris do you know why the small star was used?

Btw. Got more info on Scandinavians that served in Congo, but Im quite busy right now, so I will share info later on.

[stuka f]

Hey Mads,
the star was just part of the crest that was concieved at that time. Maybe with the idea to ad more stars in the future for every next colony....
From 1885 to 1908 greatest part of Congo was called Congo Free state and private proprety of Leopold II. Sort of mediaval situation, because political Belgium didn't wanted the responsability. In 1908 the politics regards it changed and the King gave the, more expended, colony to the Belgian people .
That change should not look revolutionary, and changes were little! So the crest just lost the star in the upper right corner, and stayed mainly the same. Also the motto didn't change.

cheers

|<ris

[Glenn66]

Whilst not wishing to bring politics into this, I did watch an interesting documentary regarding the Belgian-Congo history. 'King Leopold's Ghost', certainly raised my knowledge of this part of history. Can certainly recommend it.

[stuka f]

Hey Glenn, can't comment because I didn't see it. But I'll sure will, when I find it.
cheers
|<ris

[Glenn66]

Lots of old footage including uniforms etc that you will also find interesting.

[stuka f]

Hey Glenn,
I found a preview of it, but I do know the book........
Let's says; as stated before this is based on "allegations written by less fair players in the run to the colonisation of central Afrika".
A very delicate matter, I would be happy to talk to you in private.
Just one quick remark, the picture showing women hold prisoner and guarded by a Force Publique soldier is out of his context; in the documentary they say this women were held hostage when men were at labor for the rubber industry, in fact greatest effort by the military forces was mend to fight slavery and that specific picture was taken to show how the Force publique found attached slaves when they liberated them from Arabian slave traders.