|
Date: |
|
Description: | (1) W.V.S.
(2) FS 137
(3) With the good wishes of:-
Ex Sgt H.W. Bainbridge.
Canadian Grenadier Guards
3661 St Famille St. Apt. 44,
Montreal, P.Q. Canada
With the hope that this helmet will be
(indistinguishable) in this war than as it was in the last
British First World War steel helmet, which has been modified for further service. The manufacturer's code, 'FS 137', indicates that this helmet was made by Thomas Firth and Sons Ltd of Sheffield. This firm produced steel helmets between 1915 and 1919. The liner system is a MK II, a pattern that was approved in 1939. Presumably the original 'Brodie' style chinstrap was retained. The helmet is associated with both the First World War service of Sergeant H W Bainbridge (in the Canadian Expeditionary Force) and an unknown member of the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) during the Second World War. The typewritten label makes clear that helmet was 'recycled' for use in the Second World War possibly via one of the many Home Front salvage campaigns.
This steel helmet is an example of one that has been modified for further service. The manufacturer's code, 'FS 137' indicates that this helmet was made by Thomas Firth & Sons Ltd of Sheffield, who made steel helmets from between the years 1915-1919. The liner system is a MKII, a pattern that was approved in 1939. Presumably the original 'Brodie' style chinstrap was retained.
helmet
bottle-green painted steel helmet of First World War British dish-shaped pattern, the front of which bears the initials 'WVS' in red paint. The inside is hand-painted in black. Two metal swivelling 'D' shaped rings (15mm x 30mm) are attached either side of the interior, through which the chinstrap would be passed (there is 25mm of the original strap remaining). The edge of the helmet has a mild steel rim attached and welded at the join. The liner system is made of linseed oil based leather cloth, consisting of five tongues of material, folded and stitched at the ends to form a tunnel to accommodate a drawstring. The cloth is sewn to a fibre headband that is attached by four fibre straps. These form a central cruciform shape, and has a black rubber buffer at the apex. The buffer/liner system is attached to the helmet shell by a metal rivet that passes through the buffer to the crown of the helmet. Stamped into inside rear of the item are the markings: 'FS 137' and a paper label glued to the inside of the shell bears the following commemorative typescript inscription: 'With the good wishes of:- / Ex Sgt H.W. Bainbridge. / Canadian Grenadier Guards / 3661 St Famille St. Apt. 44, / Montreal, P.Q. Canada / With the hope that this helmet will be / (indistinguishable) in this war than as it was in the last'.
Master | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Thomas Firth and Sons Ltd (Sheffield) | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
|