Brit para helmet with insignia

[collecter]

A friend of mine has just got this out the "woodwork"or attic/celler.Opinions please,it has the BMB mark but cannot make out the date.John

[collecter]

Interior shot and makers mark,the original owner has drawn small parashutes on the band,I assume for the number of jumps he made

[collecter]

The insignia,it looks as if a seven has been changed to an eight.John

[SMP]

The date will be 43 or 44. Nice war-time para helmet that saw some post-war use ( markings ).

[britton at war]

The insignia,it looks as if a seven has been changed to an eight.John

Hi John
This I beleave is a part of the Royal Army Service Corps air despatch section that was formed arfter WWII and used the yelow Dakota airoplane on a blue square as there arm badge ( formation sign )
steve

[collecter]

Hi Steve.
Thanks for the info;now can do some more research.John

[lnijherald]

The date will be 43 or 44.

Correct, this pattern wasn't made before 1943 and the first batch after 1944 (somewhere mid-fifties I believe) had a different stamp.

Luc

[force136]

Mk ii

Hi Luc

Not sure what you mean by "and the first batch after 1944?"

I know Cotton and others say the MK II was not issued until 1944 but they are WRONG. Absolutely WRONG! Firstly, the first large sized liners for the MK II were made in 1943. The first web chin straps were developed and authorized in October 1943. The positive proof are DATED photographs of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on the range at Bulford in December 1943 wearing the MKII.

I would safely bet that the first examples came off the line as early as August/September 1943 and the first mass production of the helmet as early as October 1943.

I have seen two near mint condition MKII helmets dated 1943. The liners were of sizes NOT commonly found in earlier helmets and made with a thin black foam rubber as stated in their production documents being in sizes 7 1/2 and 7 2/3 . Both from Canadian vets. One is in CFB Petawawa museum.

There was also a swivel loop at the real of the helmet that moved from side to side and up and down.

In my book "Into the Maelstrom" from Service Publications there is a photo of a Pte. Morrison. The negative envelope of that photo clearly states "Bulford, December 1943". The Battalion had just been issued with HSAT and MKI as well as many "P" Type helmets in August 1943. After Brigadier Hill complained about the "P" type helmets being issued, they quickly issued them with the NEW MKII helmet. This all took place before December 1943.

Anyway just wanted to clear that up.

Ken

Correct, this pattern wasn't made before 1943 and the first batch after 1944 (somewhere mid-fifties I believe) had a different stamp.

Luc

[lnijherald]

Not sure what you mean by "and the first batch after 1944?"

Ken, as you say during WWII this pattern was made in 1943 and 1944. Production then stopped and was resumed again in 1952 if I recall well but with a different stamp.

Luc