Meaning of spade on MKI Royal Berkshires helmet

[Maple Creek]

As I was preparing this helmet for sale on eBay I noticed that there is a faint black painted spade emblem on the back. I figured that it is probably a unit designation, but it could be something else. Does anybody have any idea?

See also:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=300386930645

[yellow]

The helmet is to the 5th Battalion the Berkshires with 12th Division (Eastern) ace of spades divisional sign.

[Maple Creek]

Hi Yellow, Thanks. I quess I have to bone up on British military organization in WWI. I understand that the Royal Berkshires Regiment was part of the 12th Division. Is the "Eastern" designation a reference to their theater of operation (Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli)? I gather that the regiment was also active on the Westen front. So when operating on the Western Front, would they be designated "Western." I'm a little confused about this...

Also, how do you detect that this is a 5th Battalion helmet? There is a regimental emblem on front (dragon) and divisional emblem on back (ace of spades). How do we know this was from the 5th Battalion?

Cheers,

Mark D.

The helmet is to the 5th Battalion the Berkshires with 12th Division (Eastern) ace of spades divisional sign.

[Maple Creek]

Royal Berkshires Emblem

Here's a shot of the front of the helmet.

[yellow]

All you need to know is here:

http://www.1914-1918.net/12div.htm

[Maple Creek]

ty

Yellow, Thanks. Very useful website. I've come across this before, but now have it bookmarked in my "favorites" file. I still don't understand how we get that this is a 5th Battalion helmet, but maybe the website will clue me in.

For anybody else interested, "Eastern" is the designation for the region in England where the Division was formed.

Cheers,
Mark D.

[yellow]

Hi Mark, The only Battalion of the Berkshires to be part of the 12th Division was the 5th. At least thats how I read it?

[Maple Creek]

Ty

Yellow, Thanks. This will make for an interesting research project.
Cheers,
Mark D.