Original
Helmet, M1919, Tank Crew, French Army, with Trench Knife, Insignias and Portrait
Rare genuine WWI French Army M1919 helmet, intended for armored vehicle crews. Despite this designation, this type was actually introduced in late 1918. The present helmet, which is in quite good, worn condition, retains its original armored corps insignia; liner is missing. An M1833 French Navy fighting knife comes with this helmet, along with three metal insignias: initials ' A.S. ' (standing for Artillerie spéciale or Special Artillery), battle tank generic insignia (knight helm with crossed cannons), and 504e Régiment pin badge -- the latter is hallmarked Arthus Bertrand , Paris and retains its pin. The studio portrait of some unknown Corporal of the Artillerie spéciale , taken by Alfred Beller in Versailles, completes this exceptional set ( https://portraitsepia.fr/photographes/beller/ ). Created in 1918, the 504e Régiment d'artillerie spéciale was redesignated 504e Régiment de chars de combat in 1920.
Helmet, M1C, Parachutist, First Type
Rare genuine WWII US Army M1C helmet, front seam and swivel bales, manufactured by McCord , shell number 11 7A. Version intended for paratroopers. Original early canvas chinstrap with brass buckle and hook. Excellent overall condition.
Helmet, M2, Fixed Loops, Modified, D-Ring, 3rd Bn., 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division, Normandy
Genuine WWII US Army M2 helmet, front rim seam and fixed loops, without any production marking visible. The present shell features some interesting modification: the original loops were once replaced with handcrafted D-shaped loops, which were welded to the inner surface of the helmet. A single dot of white paint has been applied on the front, rear, and each side of this shell, indicating that the wearer served with the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Used condition; found in Normandy.
Helmet, Mk I, Royal Armoured Corps, CCL, 1945
Genuine WWII British tank crew helmet (Helmet, Steel, Royal Armoured Corps, Mk I), retaining its liner and web chinstrap. Liner manufactured by CCL ( Christy & Co. Ltd. , London) and dated 1945. Good, worn condition.
Helmet, Mk I, Tank Crew, Military Police (MP), 1944, Normandy
Nice genuine WWII British tank crew helmet (Helmet, Steel, Royal Armoured Corps, Mk I), complete with liner and canvas webbing chinstrap. Manufactured by FFL ( Fisher Foil Ltd. ) and dated 1944. Size 7. The outer surface features an interesting bottle-green color; a light grey stripe has been painted around the shell and digit 1 is visible on the left side; initials MP (Military Police) have been handpainted on the front. In good, worn condition, the present helmet was found east of Caen many years ago. The liner has undergone a field adaptation encountered on several helmets from the field in Normandy. The synthetic interior of these helmets was a disaster with the summer heat. The liner was hot and stuck to the head, hence the cutting of it to leave only the perimeter, more than enough to wear the helmet while being less hot.
Helmet, Mk II, 1st Belgian Brigade, Vero, 1941, Named
Genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap. A red cross has been painted in a white disc on the front and at the rear of the shell. Shell shows no visible markings. Liner is hallmarked Vero ( Everett W. Vero & Co., London ) and dated 1941. Size 7 1/4. Name Vispoel has been handwritten on the inner surface. The Belgian flag painted on the side of the shell indicates that it have seen service within the 1st Belgian Brigade, a.k.a. ' Brigade Piron '. Homogeneous set in quite good, worn condition.
Helmet, Mk II, BMB-CCL, British, 1943, with Camouflage Net, Beach Group
Genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap. Shell was manufactured by BMB ( Briggs Motor Bodies, Dagenham ) and dated 1943. Liner is hallmarked CCL ( Christy & Co. Ltd., London ) and dated 1943, too. A white stripe has been painted on the outer surface of the shell, indicating that the present helmet has seen service with a Beach Group. Homogeneous set in good, worn condition, retaining a small-mesh camouflage net.
Helmet, Mk II, British, 1940-1941, Royal Corps of Signals, Beach Group
Nice genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and early-production chinstrap. Shell manufactured by Austin Motor Company in Cowley, England and dated 1941. Liner was produced by Gimson & Slate in Nottingham, England in 1940. Size 7 1/4. The outer surface has been adorned with a white stripe on its circumference, indicating that the present helmet must have seen service with a Beach Group, whereas the left side of the shell shows the Royal Corps of Signal flash. Quite good, worn condition.
Helmet, Mk II, British, 1942, Beach Group, Military Police
Nice genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and early-production chinstrap. Shell manufactured by Rubery Owen & Co. Ltd. in Leeds, England and dated 1942. Liner is hallmarked FFL ( Fisher Foils Ltd. ) and dated 1942, too. Size 7 1/2. The outer surface has been adorned with a white stripe on its circumference, indicating that the present helmet may have seen service with a Beach Group, whereas the front of the shell features a black rectangle sporting red initials 'MP', which stand for Military Police. Quite good overall condition.
Helmet, Mk II, British, 1943, Named, Naval Beach Parties
Genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap. The shell, which has been entirely covered with a layer of blue gray paint indicating service in the Royal Navy features a single white stripe around the whole circumference. Liner is hallmarked FFL ( Fisher Foil Ltd. ) and dated 1943. Size 6 3/4. Name Viskil and service number 231026362 [?] are still visible on the webbing chinstrap. Quite good, worn condition.
Helmet, Mk II, British, 3rd Infantry Division, Sword Beach, Caen, Belgium, Holland
Rare and nice genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap. Shell manufactured by Rubery Owen & Co. Ltd. in Leeds, England and dated 1943; liner is hallmarked CCL ( Christy & Co. Ltd. , London, England) and dated 1943, too. Size 7 1/4. Quite good, worn condition. The right side of the shell is adorned with the 3rd Infantry Division flash. Initially deployed in France with the BEF in 1940, the 3rd British Infantry Division retreated to Britain from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo. Four years later, the division landed on Sword Beach on D-Day as part of the first wave, susequently participating in the liberation of Caen prior to heading to Belgium and the Netherlands.
Helmet, Mk II, British, BMB 1940, Durham Light Infantry, Normandy
Genuine WWII British Mk II helmet, retaining its original liner and early chinstrap. Liner manufactured by BMB ( Briggs Motor Bodies , Dagenham) and dated 1940.. Size 7. The regimental flash painted on the left side corresponds to the Durham Light Infantry. The 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry landed on June 6, 1944 on Gold Beach as the reserve battalion of the 151st (Durham) Brigade, prior to moving through Ver-sur-Mer, Creully, Bayeux, and towards Caen. Complete and in good overall condition. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/durham-light-infantry
