mkII (&mkI or earlier) Helmets Steel, British & Commonwealth, show yours

[BrodieBartfast]

My one and only MkII. Nothing fancy. Markings on the brim are difficult to make out, but I believe it's a BMB shell with a manufacture date of 1943. (Hard to make out the last number, but fairly certain that's what it is.) Liner is made by CCL, also dated 1943. I believe the 11 = November? Not sure what the large number is; the one partially obscured by the 'doughnut'.
As opposed to the spring/elastic chinstraps seen on most helmets, it has a simpler webbing one. Camouflage is rough textured and very heavy. Across the crown, it has what looks like the remains of a second layer of paint, although I'm not entirely sure on that.
Overall a decent textbook combat helmet. If I ever buy another of these, it'll be a Home Front one.

Regards, B.B.

[tinlid]

The 11 is for 2, being Mk2 liner, it looks like a 7 under the cruciform pad, this is for size.

[JohnF]

a couple of subtle green Home Front lids, I assume M is Medic and P possibly Police, both General Steel Ware produced GSW and DP and H marked, notice these are devoid of the chinstrap rivets on the outside

[JohnF]

Here is another khaki shade home front helmet, I found it back in the early 2000s in a junk shop in my home town for 8 quid, I regret selling it back then when I moved to canada but hey ho, I just dug out these old photos of it

I think possibly it belonged to a demolition team which were tasked with clearing firing ranges. That info came from a photo I found in a book back then, which I copied the caption, in the pic (my copy is not the best) the men have skull and cross bones painted on their helmets

those men belong to C company 66th West Yorkshire Battalion HG

Not 100% sure Demolition party, could be a coincidence

The net was original to the helmet and the markings were spray paint via stencil I believe

[M.E.E.]

a couple of subtle green Home Front lids, I assume M is Medic and P possibly Police, both General Steel Ware produced GSW and DP and H marked, notice these are devoid of the chinstrap rivets on the outside

From my understanding M is for messenger and P is for party.

[Composite]

Really?...that's interesting...what kind of "Party"...fire? rescue? repair?....Parties in the UK (Supplementary Fire Party, Repair Party, First Aid Party etc) always had more info....I'm intrigued.....

[M.E.E.]

Really?...that's interesting...what kind of "Party"...fire? rescue? repair?....Parties in the UK (Supplementary Fire Party, Repair Party, First Aid Party etc) always had more info....I'm intrigued.....

I must apologize, I tracked down the information and I misread, P is for police for Canadian DP&H helmets, M is for messenger. Doctors and medical staff used MO. Canadian markings were very simple compared to the UK. P police, F fire, W warden, U utilities, ARP (Air Raid Precautions) and CPC (Corps de Protection Civile in Quebec). After the war Canada changed to multiple colour and initials.

[JohnF]

thanks for the additional info, what are you looking at there, sounds a good book

[M.E.E.]

The information comes from a website and Mark was kind enough to link it in my rescue helmet post. Very good selection of information.

[garys39]

This helmet started out as a Shelter Warden (SW) and was then upgraded to District Warden.