British Para helmet

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

Is this an early shell with reissued 1943 style chinstrap?

Thank you

Giorgio

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

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[ITALIANWARFRONT]

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[ITALIANWARFRONT]

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[DaveG]

Aren't the extra holes at the back indicative of post war issue, perhaps Australian issue?

Best regards,

Dave

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

Aren't the extra holes at the back indicative of post war issue, perhaps Australian issue?

Best regards,

Dave

Australian post WWII?

[SMP]

Australian post WWII?

Yes Giorgio,

It's an original 1942 British HSAT MK1, but it has been re-used by the Australians in the 1950's. The Australians added the central hole at the back in order to fit the later type chinstrap. It looks as if they refurbished the felt pads in the liner on this one, too. The paint is the original WW2 British, and is in exceptionally fine condition.

Nice photos !

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

Yes Giorgio,

It's an original 1942 British HSAT MK1, but it has been re-used by the Australians in the 1950's. The Australians added the central hole at the back in order to fit the later type chinstrap. It looks as if they refurbished the felt pads in the liner on this one, too. The paint is the original WW2 British, and is in exceptionally fine condition.

Nice photos !

Thank you for the explanation, did the British ever reused the early shell with later chinstrap?
Any idea of such of helmet?
I'm working a trade and I want to make sure I'm not getting something hard to move.

Giorgio

[SMP]

Thank you for the explanation, did the British ever reused the early shell with later chinstrap?
Any idea the value of such of helmet?
I'm working a trade and I want to make sure I'm not getting something hard to move.

Giorgio

No, to the best of my knowledge the British didn't use them in this configuration.

(I noticed that the leather sweatband is upside down in yours. Another sign the liner was re-furbished IMO.)

WRT the value. If it was offered at $600 it would probably sell quickly. Any more and it might prove harder to move. An untouched one in this condition would sell for 4 times that amount IMO.
Do others agree ?

[lnijherald]

The yellow felt is original, but I've never seen it in such fresh condition! On later examples the mixed rubber and felt padding was replaced by three strips of rubber coated felt.

Luc

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

I looked on the Marzetti book and the Australian army had a para helmet similar to the British but non mention of use of UK helmets.
Any period pictures of Australian para with British helmets?
Thank you

Giorgio

[Gary Jucha]

Au

Australian re issue post ww2 as an AFV helmet.

Gary J.

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

Australian re issue post ww2 as an AFV helmet.

Gary J.

pictures?

[SMP]

Australian re issue post ww2 as an AFV helmet.

Gary J.

Gary,
There is no evidence that AFV crews used them. That is just a story that spread like a Chinese whisper among collectors a few years ago. The truth is they were used by the Australian paras and SAS in the 50s.

[Mark Gibson]

Gary,
There is no evidence that AFV crews used them. That is just a story that spread like a Chinese whisper among collectors a few years ago. The truth is they were used by the Australian paras and SAS in the 50s.

Agreed, they were never used as AFV helmets. This is just a story that seems to have perpetuated over the years. They were obtained from Great Britain for Australian paratroopers but most were never used due to the disbandment of the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion after the war. I have seen one which definitely belonged to a member of the Battalion along with his original Australian made maroon beret and the helmet has the web chinstraps.

Mark