"British Household Cavalry" Topic

Can anyone advise when the British Household cavalry went into helmets – was it 1812 like the rest of the heavy's?

Can anyone advise when the British Household cavalry went into helmets – was it 1812 like the rest of the heavy's?

I know so little about this.

But my posting puts you back to the top anyway.

The obvious answers are to question;

Why are you asking this? What period or battle exactly are you addressing?

Secondly do you accept that these things took time, depending on the period specified? This is not an overnight thing, far from home.

Have you considered the question of the crest on the helmets, if we do agree as adopted? That bear fur could take on some weird colours as first seen. (Waterloo 1815 is much easier)

While I am no expert on British cavalry as I recall the Household cavalry were issued the first pattern helmet in 1812 – leather helmet with brass crest and horsehair mane – replaced in 1814 by a helmet with a wool comb instead of the horsehair mane; it was the heavy cavalry bicorne before 1812

Did the heavy cavalry bicorne conceal a "secret?"

From the regimental history, the Life Guards went to the Peninsula in 1812 with the new style helmets. The Royal Horse Guards still had bicornes. Dighton's painting shows the RHG with helmets in Spain but this may be artistic (or client?) licence or they managed to be resupplied.

Let's not forget the 1st (Kings) Dragoon Guards who did wear the 'maned' helmet. Here's a related discussion about them. Re: 1st/2nd Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards and the 1st (Kings) Dragoon Guards (1815)

TMP link

Be aware that there was a bit of experimenting with the type of crest that was to be used for the crested helmet before what was finally adopted in 1814. But as with British regulations and adoption of uniforms 'It ain't clear'