Mk1* Voluntary Aid Detachment.
A Mk1* made by Thomas Firth & Sons, with Mk2 chin strap lugs dated 1938. The Mk1 liner is dated 1939, it also has in white paint on the inside a 1 over SS. To show that it has a stainless steel rim.
The white label, probably medical tape stuck on the liner reads I.S.Bower VAD Tidworth House Hants, and the VAD service number 531033.
Just visible by the FKS stamp is in ink, I.S.BOWER 531033 Dorset 62.
Tidworth house was also known as Tedworth house, and was used during ww2 as an club for American soldiers. Before reverting to it's normal role as a nurses accommodation. It now resides in Wiltshire as of 1991.
The Voluntary Aid Detachment worked alongside military nurses during the two World Wars. The VAD were formed in August 1909, as part of Lord Keogh's Scheme for the Organisation of Voluntary Aid, because of the fear that there was a shortage of nurses should war come and the role of the Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses and assistants were to provide nursing and medical assistance during a time of war. They were organised by the British Red Cross Society and in later years the Order of St John helped
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