Decalled Turtle Helmet

[yellow]

Just having a rummage through the trash in my garage with the aim of making some beer money. Before I let this one go on the car boot can anyone tell me what the decal on this 1955 turtle signifies?

Looks to be a dark green shield with traces of white paint to the left?

Many thanks,

Steve.

[sabertasche]

Steve, with the high rivets, wouldn't this make it a WW2 issue MkIII helmet? I can't tell if if the liner is held in by a screw or by a popper. If it is a screw, with the higher rivets, I would say it may be a better helmet than you think. Can't help on the decal. I have many of them and none are in a shield form.

Greg

[ROBB]

I agree dont car boot it it might be worth more than you think ,show us the liner .Rob.

[SMP]

Looks like a nice original MKIII . I suspect the shield is the remains of a fake german decal.

Regards,
Steve

[yellow]

The helmet was purchased in 1985 by me from Boscombe Militaria for 3 pounds. he had many helmets including double decal german helmets which were priced at 35 pounds each. I bought it to play army in...I was 6 years old.

The liner is held in by a brass nut and bolt. Liner is marked

REM
MK II
1955

[yellow]

Thanks for your help SMP. Based on what you have said I dont want to risk gaining the reputation of selling fakes........not even at a local car boot. I`ll probably chuck this in the skip. Sorry to of wasted everyones time with a repro all your help has been very much appreciated.

Posted a pic you can all save off in case anymore of these fakes crop up.

[Marc Sherriff]

The helmet is not fake! It is a World War 2, British Mark III helmet, and worthy of being kept not skipped, no matter what the shield is. If you insist on skipping it I will send you my address and you can skip it this way.
Marc

[SMP]

Ha ! Ha ! Boscombe Militaria. That makes sense.
In 1985 I lived in Boscombe East and was friends with Eddie Browne of BM. At the time I was a serious collector of British helmets ( there weren't many of us !) and Eddie would give me first refusal on every one he picked-up (which was a lot !). I was a bit older than six at the time, so I guess my pocket money was more than you Steve. I wouldn't have bought this one because it had a post-war liner. As a matter of fact the first helmet I ever bought from Eddie was a 1945 dated MKIII. I walked into his shop in Palmerston road on the day he opened. I remember he was arranging the shop with the help of his Mum, and it was on the floor. Oh happy days !!
Don't throw it away. Find a spare liner and sell it on e-stand. The shell is still desirable.

Regards,
Steve

[yellow]

It was a case of buying the cheapest for the job. I had some great fun wearing this believe it or not it actually improved my swimming as it strenghened my neck muscles........I never took it off all summer! I bet the forces chaps who wore this werent so keen on wearing it all day!

Even now I see these helmets on a regular basis. I was looking at one with a unusual sack cloth cover the other day. I thought eight pounds for it was a bit of a rip off........how much are these worth with a post war liner about the same, as I paid back in the 1980's?

Steve.

[ROBB]

It probably went from D Day to Germany in its past life . Stick it on ebay " WW2 Canadian Brit Turtle helmet " then add it has a 1955 dated liner added post war and start the bidding at 9.99 .Rob