1943 G&S 2nd Pattern Para Helmet Question

[RobNZ]

Hi all,

Im hoping you Airborne experts might be able to help me answer a question.
Ive just obtained a Para Helmet, the type without the fibre rim, but with leather chinstraps. In between the first and last types.
The liner is maked: 19 G&S 43
7
The liner is named to: Cooke 482
SIGS PLN
Ive just taken some pics but cant post them.
The helmet was found in Christchurch, New Zealand,
and I believe the person I got it from could have gotten it through an estate sale. So it could have belonged to a NZ'er?
There is perhaps 5-10% paint remaining on the outside of the helmet, and it looks to be a light sandy colour. Ive seen quite a few Kiwi helmets that have lived in garages since the war and with NZ's moisture almost always lose paint and dry out.
The liner is remarkably intact and in good-average condition, all complete, although the rubber is a bit dry. Should I leave the rubber 'as is' ? or is there a treatment to soften it up

Is there any way I can find out who Cooke is or where he served?
I havent seen many of these G&S Helmets before although I have seen quite a few BMB ones, does anyone know what G&S stands for?

Any knowledge is greatly appreciated.
Best regards

Rob

[lnijherald]

Hi Rob,
G&S made a bunch of these helmets but a short contract only in 1943. I think it is was used by a British airborne soldier and somehow ended up in NZ.

Whatever you do, don't mess with the rubber! Just keep it away from direct sunlight or extreme heat exposure.


Otherwise, I can't be of much help, sorry!

Cheers, Luc

[RobNZ]

Hi Rob,
G&S made a bunch of these helmets but a short contract only in 1943. I think it is was used by a British airborne soldier and somehow ended up in NZ.

Whatever you do, don't mess with the rubber! Just keep it away from direct sunlight or extreme heat exposure.


Otherwise, I can't be of much help, sorry!

Cheers, Luc

Thanks Luc,
Yes it would be British Airborne. I know of a few New Zealanders who were enlisted into the British Airborne. My co-worker's uncle, a Kiwi was at Arnhem.
Its possible that it could have been that scenario or perhaps a british vet who retired in NZ or the helmet somehow made its way over here.
I believe it could have come through an estate sale, which im trying to find out.

Rob

[Gary Jucha]

G and S

Sounds correct .... 1943 G and S leather strap ....

.. As discussed before on the forum .. the G and S contract seems to have been a short run in 1943 only ..

.. And of course there's still the question ...

" Who was G and S" ??

Gary J.

[force136]

Helmets etc.

Ya, who was G&S? I do know however that they did make the MKII helmet in 1944. This because I had one which I beleive is still in a local collection. I also had a 1944 dated MKII which has a rampant lion within a shield maker. This done in the same fashion as a BMB but I am also at a loss to explain who that is? We also have to be careful whether these were entire helmets made by these companies or whether the liners were only contracted?

Ken

Sounds correct .... 1943 G and S leather strap ....

.. As discussed before on the forum .. the G and S contract seems to have been a short run in 1943 only ..

.. And of course there's still the question ...

" Who was G and S" ??

Gary J.

[Gary Jucha]

Good Point

Ken,
Good point whether G and S were purely down to liner production ....

.. I've never seen a 44 G and S liner .. and would like to see pictures if someone has one ..

Also ...I believe that there was a Canadian manufacture of the "web strap" helmet ... but I have no details as to "who", and what production marks they used.

Regards

Gary J.

Ya, who was G&S? I do know however that they did make the MKII helmet in 1944. This because I had one which I beleive is still in a local collection. I also had a 1944 dated MKII which has a rampant lion within a shield maker. This done in the same fashion as a BMB but I am also at a loss to explain who that is? We also have to be careful whether these were entire helmets made by these companies or whether the liners were only contracted?

Ken

[force136]

Hi Gary

I will try to track the G&S 44 however I think I sold that to a fellow in Toronto who has since passed away and his collection split up. I will keep an eye out for one. The MK IIs were never made in Canada. They used old British shells and web straps with a liner made in Canada. These are the ones with the granular yellow foam and a pinkish coloured leather head band. they are never marked. G&S may have made the whole helmet, I was just stating a possibility?

Ken

Ken,
Good point whether G and S were purely down to liner production ....

.. I've never seen a 44 G and S liner .. and would like to see pictures if someone has one ..

Also ...I believe that there was a Canadian manufacture of the "web strap" helmet ... but I have no details as to "who", and what production marks they used.

Regards

Gary J.

[Nick B]

Heres the pictures of the helmet for RobNZ
Pic 1

[Nick B]

Pic 2

[Nick B]

Pic 3