Hope of interest South African Helmet

[busman]

Here are a few pics of my South African Helmet, looks to have a Mediterranean over paint. Liner dated 1940.

[tinlid]

Could well have been used in the latter stages of North Africa or the Med, lots of character.

[SMP]

Very nice. Not many of these SA helmets saw service in WW2. Yours looks like one of the few that did. Congratulations on a great helmet !

[busman]

Thanks for the feedback on this one. I do like these helmets and as you say finding a battle worn one is difficult. Does anyone know if these were issued post war, as a lot seem to have just sat in stores.

[tinlid]

Have you read the sticky on South African helmets?
About 1.5 million SA Mk2's were made, it's thought about 300,000 were used by SA, the rest going into storage. Some of those would have been issued around the Commonwealth Countries, but most left in storage, hence why you see so many mint unissued. Post war used by Greece, Israel, and quite a few European Countries.

[busman]

Makes one wonder why they produced so many. Especially in a time where materials were in short supply.

[tinlid]

Maybe there wasn't any rationing in SA, there was here, but we produced about 12 million.

[SMP]

What is the writing below L/Cpl ?

[busman]

The writing underneath is the initials C.J.W

[SMP]

The writing underneath is the initials C.J.W

Thanks .
A previous owner perhaps ?