British Camo Helmet - Malta / Africa ?

[Mons 1914]

Picked this up recently, it has 100% Original wartime camo, looks to be Malta, Crete, Africa type.??

Really thick 2 tone colour paint with coarse grit, liner JCS & W Ltd dated 1938, original chinstrap as well, also the liner was remove before being painted then replaced after - NICE!

The liner is a little dry, but still in very good condition, what would be the best thing to use on it - Dubbing??

Scott

[Mons 1914]

Inside, I can't see the date on the shell as the paint is really thick, but I think I can just see the the 9 for 19**.

[Mons 1914]

And the brush strokes.......... !!

[Mons 1914]

And the brush strokes............ !!

[Mons 1914]

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[Mons 1914]

Just to show it has the Original Factory Green Colour, then the camo was applied over.
The paint has chipped off to reveal the original colour.

Scott

[ROBB]

Are the dark bits rust? its not nescessary to do anything to the liner its best to leave it as it is its not going to dissintergrate thats my personal view ,I think I saw a helmet very similar to that being used in Burma recently the chap had painted it like this in lieu of a net . It doesnt seem to be very dirty or dusty on the inside though.Rob.

[Mons 1914]

Hi Bob,
To the inside the spots are rust, the liner is quite well worn & dirty/dusty, the bolt is very tight with no movement at all in the liner.

Here's a picture, the lights getting bad.


Scott

[ROBB]

Whatever the theatre its a very nice and stunning helmet dont see many nice camo Tommy helmets around .Rob

[Mons 1914]

Rob,
To me it looks ok, the outer paint has in places the green factory issue paint, were it's suffered "battle scars" (if theirs is such a word) so I'm 100% sure on the paint being wartime, it's really thick & heavy like a sandy/larger grit mix.........

Whats your views?

Scott

[Aave Johns]

I'm am fairly sure that I have seen a photo from Malta with two blokes manning an AA position (Bren if I recall correctly) with helmets painted in broad brush-strokes similar to this. Beind a BW photo it is difficult to say what colour with any accuracy, but it could have been dark brown. I will keep an eye out for it.

Regards;

Johnsy

[SHEARING-CROSS]

Hiya SCOT , ANOTHER NICE LUMP U HAVE FOUND , if u hunt about there are a few photos of these painted hemets being worn and as Aave has stated there is a nice one of a gun crew at Malta harbour , have also seen these worn by free polish troops at Tobruk , there is a documentry shown regular on cable about the North African fighting , it shows a british tommy sat with a pile of helmets painting them like yours and ( i have been told ??) sand was sometimes thrown over them before the paint dried , nice item , thanks for showing , Michael.

[Mons 1914]

Thank You for the replies, Hi Michael,

I will have a good hunt for some photos, but really it could be any of the sandy Theaters!who knows

Scott

[Jean-Loup]

A very dry liner is a caracteristic often seen on German tropical helmets. Probably has to do with the heat and sweating in it.
Nice helmet.
JL

[SMP]

Such a camo would only work in static defences. Tobruk and Malta were the two classic siege senarios . Most of the time the Allied forces were on the offensive and used netting for camouflage.
Nice helmet !

Regards,
Steve