camo helmet from Anzio

[ROBB]

http://history.farmersboys.com/Battl...o_crossing.htm

I just went to a local charity antiques fair and I came across a stall selling military books and behind the books was a camo Tommy helmet so I asked how much £15 so I bought it (I would have bought it if he had said £100).We got talking and he told me the history of the helmet ,It had belonged to his uncle who was in the 10th Royal Berkshire regiment in the 56th division ,he had fought through Africa and found himself at Anzio at Garrilingo and was one of only 46 survivors of the action (the historys say between 30- 40 ) .See above link for the details of the action .Later he went up to Cassino .Pics to follow .This is the first Tommy helmet I have owned where I know where its been .Rob.

[yellow]

You lucky B Robb! As it was for charity couldnt you have said.....no, thats too much.....I`ll offer you a tenner?

Any chance of a pic?

Steve.

[ROBB]

You lucky B Robb! As it was for charity couldnt you have said.....no, thats too much.....I`ll offer you a tenner?

Any chance of a pic?

Steve.

Hi Steve I had battery failiure ,here we go ,Rob.

[ROBB]

Hi Steve I had battery failiure ,here we go ,Rob.

another view

[ROBB]

another view

Again another

[ROBB]

Again another

number 4

[ROBB]

number 4

And 5

[ROBB]

And 5

number 6 a close up .Rob.

[ROBB]

Whoops I forgot the liner .Steve I have learnt from past dealings that if the price is right pay it then and there ,because if you leave it and think about it ,it will be sold by the time you come back .

[WalterB]

Whoops I forgot the liner .Steve I have learnt from past dealings that if the price is right pay it then and there ,because if you leave it and think about it ,it will be sold by the time you come back .

That is a very nice helmet. I like the camo wear, the look of the old bolt and the overall patina of the helmet. A one looker. It is great that you received some history behind it, congratulations. How common/uncommon is it to find camo Tommy helmets? Were you able to get a name as well? If you did, it would be worth researching.

[DJT]

Very nice Rob, well done

[ROBB]

Thankyou for your comments.Camo Tommy helmets are very hard to locate ,during the war they had a plentifull supply of nets and burlap so there was little need for camo paintjobs .I have Just been chatting to the nephew again .His name was A.H. Keep and he wasnt at this action (he had been wounded just before whilst he was with an officer on close observation duties ,unfortuntely they were spotted and shelled sporadically ,they couldnt move as the Germans would see them move and fire again) he missed the action but when he was better he tried to rejoin his unit and was told he basically had no unit left to join ,all of his mates had been killed ,which affected him greatly from then till his death ,he was downgraded due to his wounds and reassigned to protecting food convoys (mainly from Italian Partisans ).Rob

[Frederic]

Congratulations ROBB,
This is indeed a real keeper! VERY nice helmet and thank you for sharing It! It is always so interesting to able to locate camo helmets!
Cheers
Frederic

[WalterB]

Thankyou for your comments.Camo Tommy helmets are very hard to locate ,during the war they had a plentifull supply of nets and burlap so there was little need for camo paintjobs .I have Just been chatting to the nephew again .His name was A.H. Keep and he wasnt at this action (he had been wounded just before whilst he was with an officer on close observation duties ,unfortuntely they were spotted and shelled sporadically ,they couldnt move as the Germans would see them move and fire again) he missed the action but when he was better he tried to rejoin his unit and was told he basically had no unit left to join ,all of his mates had been killed ,which affected him greatly from then till his death ,he was downgraded due to his wounds and reassigned to protecting food convoys (mainly from Italian Partisans ).Rob

It is finds like these that make the rest of the fruitless searches worth it in the end. Great addition to anyone's collection.

[Antoni Zawadzki]

oops - double post