Possibly a home guard helmet?

[busman]

Thought this may have a chance of being a home guard camouflage helmet. But does have small traces of black on the rim, so could be a wardens helmet over painted for home guard use , or just a post war job. The liner is dated 1940 as is the shell.

[tinlid]

Hard to tell really, but the HG were issued helmets in black, grey and even private purchase ones, due to shortages.

[busman]

Thanks tinlid for the info, the paint has certainly been on for a long period, with that and the info info you have given me,I'll put it in my may have a chance section.

[tinlid]

I have this 1939 dated, originally black painted Mk2, it was then over painted with a textured paint and net. Most likely a factory HG unit.

[busman]

Nice helmet, I have learnt a lot today regarding over painted HG helmets, the only info I have on mine is it came covered in bird poo from an out building in the New Forest.

[tinlid]

To get a perspective of the amount of HG units that had to be supplied with equipment including helmets, here's London's units. Note how many different types of units had to be supplied with helmets, and at a time (1940- 41) when helmets were in short supply. Then times it by the whole Country,you can see why some were issued with non standard helmets.
North East Sub Area: Zone H

South East Sub Area: Zone D, G and N

South East Sub Area: Zone L, N, P, R, Z

South West Sub Area: Zone A, B, F, V, W
Railways: LMS (London) Broad Street Station London Passenger Transport Group
Public Utility Companies:
London County Council Group
Metropolitan Water Board
Central London Electricity
Metropolitan Electric Supply Company
County of London Electrical Supply Company
South Metropolitan Gas Company
Wandsworth Gas Company
Special Units:
Associated Operators (London District Battalion)
1st American Squadron
99th County of London (Taxi) Battalion
Fisher Renwick & Co Ltd ( 1st City of London Battalion)
Middlesex Company ‘Upper Thames Patrol'
HQ London District Signal Company

The City of London TA and AF association, Finsbury Barracks, City Road EC1
North East Sub Area: Zone J, K, C and E

Railways: LMS (London Group) Euston Station
17th (City of London) (LNER) Battalion

Public Utility Companies:
General Post Office
Post Office London Telephone Communications Region
Post Office London Postal Region Group
Port of London Authority
Metropolitan Transport Supply Company Ltd (No. 2 City of London
Transport Battalion)

Middlesex TA and AF association, 20 Grosvenor Gardens SW1
North West Sub Area:
Zone S and X
South West Sub Area:
Zone V and T

Battalions located in London County, Middlesex County and the City of London
City of London 1st to 38th

County of London

1st to 59th
Middlesex 1st to 31st

Battalions located in Counties under London District Command
Essex 51st to 55th

Kent
51st to 57th

Surrey 51st to 63rd

[busman]

Seems a logistical nightmare to supply the Home guard and the Army, especially after Dunkirk left a majority of the Army without equipment, and we are only talking helmets here.