Enotes WW1 Turkish Headgear Flaherty 7JU[...]
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eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 www.ottoman-uniforms.com eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 INTRODUCTION This updated research note: ‘WW1 Turkish Headgear’, attempts to bring together the available information, pictures and articles producing a comprehensive outline of the all types of headgear, covers and insignia used during WW1 by the Ottoman Imperial Army and Imperial Ottoman Navy1. Fundamentally, this study shows that only a limited range of headgear was actually used. These are: 1 1876 till 1908 Imperial Army Headgear 2 1876 Helmet of the Firemen Regiment 3 Post-1909 Imperial Army Officer’s Kabalak 4 Post-1914 Officer’s Sunhat 5 Post-1908 Imperial Army Soldier’s Kalpak 6 Post-1913 Imperial Army Soldier’s Kabalak 7 Post-1916 Imperial Army Bashlik 8 Post-1909 Imperial Army Officer’s Kalpak 9 Covers and Insignia 10 Imperial Ottoman Navy Officers’ Caps 11 Imperial Ottoman Navy Sailors’ Caps 12 Yildirim Army Group Steel Helmet 13 Fakes 1. 1876 TILL 1908 IMPERIAL ARMY HEADGEAR In 1247 (1832), a decree of Sultan Mahmud II declared the Fez to be the Ottoman national headdress. To be worn by civilians and military alike. Till 1909, Imperial Army and Navy uniforms did not include provision for headdress, till introduction of the M1909 kalpak (for the Army). Example 1 (Below): However, around 1880s the Ottoman Dragoons and Field Artillery adopted the lambwool cap (which later developed into the M1909 kalpak), which was similar to the Russian cossacks’ fleece cap. It should be noted that from 1876, the Ottoman’s Karapapak tribal cavalry (who emigrated from Azerbaijan, in the 1820s) wore the traditional Russian cossacks’ uniform, and are the likely source for this introduction. 1 The Author, Chris Flaherty, lives in London, and has a long-term interest in militaria collecting, curation, preservation and research. He has written several articles on WW1 Ottoman militaria history. He can be contacted via email [email protected] PAGE 1 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 It may also be the case, that in earlier periods headgear of this type was being used following the 1832 establishment of the Imperial Army. As General Vanson in the Crimean War (1854-56) 2, illustrated these (Examples 2 - Below): Example 3 (Below): illustrating a pre 1900 period gun crew shows these men wearing early black sheepskin Kalpak, with either a red or blue cloth tops. 2. 1876 HELMET OF THE FIREMEN REGIMENT Example 4 (Below - right): A picture of the only 'known' steel helmet used by the Imperial Army, prior to WW1. Likely to have originated between 1861 and 18763, this helmet was used into WW1, for the Imperial Guard Fireman Regiment. Three features are relevant here, such use of the ball final (itself sitting on a brass rosette base), and the helmet completely lacquered red, and the display of the 'Order of Orta' (Crescent) badge. One of the few English written sources that actually provide a description for this frequently illustrated and photographed badge is E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936, ‘History of the 2 Flaherty, C. (2011) Ottoman Uniforms of the Crimean War. SOTQ. Issue 147 (December,): 16-27. 3 B. Tasyakan. (2008) The volunteer firefighters of İstanbul, 1826-1923 [İstanbul'un gönüllü tulumbacıları, 1826-1923]. Masters Thesis, Bogazici University, Turkey: 50; E.J. Brill. (1936) First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936: Vol. IV: 53. “History of the Regiment of Firemen.”: 833; Chris Flaherty. (2010) Ottoman Army Specialist Insignia. The Armourer Militaria Magazine, Issue 99 (May-June, 2010): 90-91. PAGE 2 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 Regiment of Firemen’ (page 53). The Orta badge was also mounted on both the Fez, and the M1909 black sheepskin Kalpak, as well as used by the Imperial Guard’s Regiment of Firemen. Example 4 (Below - left): A known original Orta badge from WW1. Nicolle’s Ottoman Infantryman 1914-18 identifies this badge as well, with students from the Military Academy, who have been deployed on active service during the war as probationary officers.4 3. POST-1909 IMPERIAL ARMY OFFICER’S KABALAK The following text is extracted from - militarysunhelmets.com http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/ottoman-turkish-sun-helmets-the- kabalak#more-321 Ottoman Sun Helmets: The Kabalak Posted on April 29, 2012 by Dr. Chris Flaherty To discuss the Turkish Kabalak, we must firstly dispel a few myths; some 40 years ago a book on German steel helmets accidentally transposed the Ottoman contracted M18 helmet, with a visorless version (which made its first appearance after World War I in the hands of the German Freikorps units), both of which had been made by Eisenhüttenwerk Thale.5 The original quote which began this confusion (from Stahlhelm: A History of the German Steel Helmet, Floyd R. Tubbs (1971, 2000): 24), inaccurately: • Links the helmet design with the 1247 (European date of 1832) decree of Sultan Mahmud II declaring the Fez to be the Ottoman national headdress; as well as, • Largely fabricated some supposed contract clause, that required the head gear used in the Ottoman Imperial Army have no peaks, so that soldiers wearing them would be able to touch their foreheads to the ground during prayer (without the need to remove their helmets). 4 David Nicolle. (2010) Ottoman Infantryman 1914-18. Osprey Publishing. 5 Flaherty, C. (2011) WW1 Ottoman Steel Helmets. The Armourer Militaria Magazine, Issue 104 (March-April, 2011): 36-38. PAGE 3 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 Notwithstanding, well back into the 16th Century, a large frontal peak (to shield the eyes from sun glare) has been a distinctive feature of Ottoman -period Turkish armoured helmets, made by the imperial workshops in Constantinople (later Istanbul). And in WWI, a number of sun helmets, like the ‘Kabalak’ were developed for the Ottoman Imperial Army. The ‘Kabalak’ or ‘Enver’ Under the 1908 Army reforms the ‘Kabalak’ or ‘Enver’ as it has become known was introduced. Typically, it has been said that Turkish Kabalaks came in various forms, some had an internal frame with material wound around, while others were apparently made from heavy canvas-like material. None of this is entirely correct, and many of the misconceptions about this particular headgear can be traced back to a clear misreading of the original description given in the 1916 Turkish Army Handbook: “The cap is a khaki kalpak with a distinctive top or dome the same color as the coat collars. Officers have gold (non-combatants silver) ornamental bands on the crowns. But the rank and file were supplied in 1913 and 1914 with a new head-covering (bashlik), a long strip of khaki cloth tied spirally on the head and forming a sort of soft helmet, which can easily be mistaken for the British khaki helmet in a bad light. It is however, more pointed and falls particularly in front and behind.”6 There is a footnote to this description, stating that the “bashlik” is also, “known as the Enverie or ‘Enver Helmet’ after the war minister who introduced it”. However, this paragraph is actually describing two entirely different types of headgear, as will be seen. Example 5 (Left): A high quality Kabalak displayed in the National Turkish Army Museum, Istanbul. This not only has a brass spike attached on top, supported by a strong ridged frame. It also displays a quality brass ‘Order of Orta’ crescent badge. The wrapped earflaps are fully lined and edged with tape. Example 6 (Below - left): Displayed in the National Turkish Army Museum, Istanbul, another of the ‘spiked’ Kabalaks, with the Order of Orta’ crescent badge. More of the internal fixtures are shown as well, and this is fully lined with a chinstrap attached to the sweatband inside. Examples 7-8 (Right, and below - left): these are WW1-period pictures of various officers wearing high quality Kabalaks similar to the above examples, 7 however without a badge or spike attached. 6 British General Staff. (1995) 1916 Handbook of the Turkish Army. Battery Press, Nashville: 50. 7 Tunca Orses. Necmettin Ozcelik. (2007) Dunya Savasi'nda Turk Askeri Kiyafetleri 1914- 1918. Militärmuseum, Istanbul. PAGE 4 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 Example 9 (Below - right): An Artillery officer, indicated by the grenade badges on the collar. This illustrates the cord ties (on the fount above the wearer’s brow), which are sometimes visible on examples. These secure the ends of the earflaps. Note with this example, the peak of the headgear is almost non-existent. And this is closer in design to a solder’s version (described below). Example 10 (Below): Displayed in the National Turkish Army Museum, Istanbul, is the underside of these higher quality Kabalak. This shows the internal arrangements. This is fully lined with a chinstrap attached to the sweatband inside. PAGE 5 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 Example 11 (Left): Is a period picture showing the rear of these high quality Kabalak, and the cord ties are clearly visible on examples. These secure the ends of the earflaps. PAGE 6 eNOTES WW1 Turkish Headgear Dr Chris Flaherty: Updated Research Notes 7 June 2012 4. POST-1914 OFFICER’S SUNHAT Example 12 (Below): Displayed in the Imperial War Museum, this version, which has a ridged framed (UNI 12390. URL: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30100200). The museum catalogue states: "Worn by Muzalim-l-Sani (2nd Lieutenant) Abedine Houchemi of the 2nd Turkish Infantry Regiment.