Thanks, that gave me a chuckle.
A very worn Fire Watchers helmet that has a nice bit of hidden history.
Originally painted khaki green inside & out, it belonged to a NFS Company officer as it had an 1 1/2" red band.
It was then over painted black but leaving an 1" of red for a rank, ( NFS 1/2 red band donates a leading fireman) So it could be for a leading fire watcher?
Fire watchers job was to protect industrial premises, most likely workers from the factory doing the watching for incendiary bombs, & with their stirrup pumps put out any fires. If the fire was to strong then calling the NFS.
The shell is dated 1940 & made by EC&CoLtd, the liner is a BMB which is dated 1939. The NFS decal is under the black paint above the FW, & as with all the red paint on these NFS helmets it goes crinkly.
Not very pretty but I obtained this Canadian made CSW helmet, from a chap in Caen Normandy, where it had been found locally, no liner, it wasn't till I gently cleaned it with a wet cloth, that the remains on the name SWANSON became visable, there are also some other marks further round but unreadable, a helmet with a story I think.
1939 dated, named to MUNDY, bought locally at a carboot a few years ago, great sand finish and wired !
I will second that Jerry a very nice lid indeed Gary I tried to enlarge the picture to look at the wire a little closer it would appear to have sand texture on the vertical wire strips but it is hard to make out.
Regards Mark
SA MKII, Jaeger Rand liner dated 1940.
The shell has the original sand colour underneath, but was covered with green camo at some point, possibly during the Italy campaign.
The helmet has the following markings inside:
A/CPL Davey.LA
733. (+something I cant read)
Cheers, Mads
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