Hello folks. I just picked up a nice lot of items from the daughter of a US WWII vet, and this French WWI helmet was among his souvenirs. It is complete w/ the exception of the badge. My question is, did these helmets leave the factory (ies), with the badges installed, or were they installed at the time that the helmets were issued dependent upon which branch of service got them (infantry, artillery, medical, colonial, etc)? I honestly can't tell if t his one ever had a badge mounted to it, and the overall condition makes me think that this one might've never been issued and that the wear is simply the result of its nearly 100 years of age. Even the original drawstring is present, but was never threaded through the holes. Dare I say, it's the first of these I've had w/ such a nice liner and an INTACT chinstrap. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
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Close up of badge mounting area... -
Hi Milton,
You raise a good question and I'd be interested in an answer too. Your piece is in wonderful condition for the age and looks great! From the badge area, it would appear it's never had one fitted...
At the time, the helmet was generic, so my guess is that they were fitted from stock for each specific branch...------------------------------------------------
Collector of French ww2-era insignia.Comment
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Hi Scott. That's what I'm thinking too. From a purely logistical standpoint, it would stand to reason that rather than allocate specific amounts of helmets w/ specific badges from the factories, that they'd be applied from generic stocks at the point of issue. I hope some more folks will chime in w/ some add'l information. Thanks for your post.Comment
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It depends. Sometimes the badges were applied and then the entire helmet was painted. But other times, the helmets were painted and then badges were applied later. You see this mostly with medical Adrians, as the badges are almost always a lighter shade blue than the helmets. So it does happen.
I can't see any imprint on the helmet of a badge that was on there at any time. It's possible it was never issued, or was issued to a unit or nation that didn't put a badge on it.Comment
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Thanks. Well, rather than "pretty it up" with an original badge (if I could even find one...) I'll likely leave it as-is, as I've really not much doubt that it was picked up and brought home this way. Thanks gents.Comment
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I have heard some people say the badges were often removed if the soldier surrendered or they were ordered to remove it by the Germans
in some wartime photos captured French soldiers can be seen with the badge missing on the helmet
Last edited by bolo; 06-22-2012, 11:49 PM.Comment
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Some nations did wear the helmets with no badges. The Italian helmet didn't even have the two holes for the badge to attach to. They were never cut out. That picture looks like such a helmet. Of course, those in the photo are also 1926 model helmets, not 1915.Comment
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There is also evidence of Austria soldiers wearing Adrian helmets that they captured. But these are typically Italian models, which as I mentioned below, have no badge and no holes to attach a badge to.Comment
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Thanks gents. Yes, I can appreciate that. My example, however, doesn't seem to have any wear marks to indicate that a badge was ever attached (as far as I can tell). Thx for the comments!Comment
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It is also possible your helmet was reissued. It may have been used, then went back to be repainted or fixed. It does have a second pattern liner in it. Do you see any signs of a previous lighter blue paint under the dark blue paint on it now?Comment
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Probably the destination of your helmet was to some italian officer at the very beginning of the hostilities. Italian officers wear blue horizon helmets at the beginning without badge and holes but there is also trace that some helmets like yours were used!!Comment
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All very intriguing possibilities, to be sure! No, I don't see any real signs of another underlying paint color. Guess the jury might be out on this one for a while! Either way, it's nice to have one w/ a full liner AND chinstrap for a change. Thanks for the comments!Comment
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If there is no first layer of paint underneath, and with the condition its in, I would say its almost certainly an unissued helmet. The liner and chinstrap are in great condition. Its a nice find, the only detracting feature is the lack of a badge. You could always find a replacement to put on it for display purposes if you were so inclined.Originally posted by Milton View PostComment
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