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04-03-2014 11:43 PM
# ADS
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I believe I have answered my own question (only took 40+ years). In closely examining the rear of the helmet, it appears this may have been a numeral 9. Here is a very poor quality photo that does show the scratches. There are also three little spots of white paint remaining within the scratched off area.
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It does look like to be a outline of the number 9, there was a 9th infantry regiment in the foot guards so maybe that's what the 9 means?
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The number on the rear of the Guard helmets represents the company. From what I understand it was only the 1st Foot Guards who so marked their helmets. On another forum there is a photo of a Guard's helmet with a 9 on the rear. The style of the numeral is very different. It almost appears to have been a 2 that was redone into a 9.
Now I'm wondering why only part of the numeral was removed from this helmet.
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Hello
I notice you reside in PA, when I first settled there I was amazed how many one would find in this particular State. An old friend of mine remarked a US division from PA was posted close to the Guard barracks postwar, maybe some AEF gents could comment on this? Anyway appears many of the troops brought them home as a keepsake I even found one at a run of the mill sunday morning flea market minus the liner.
Regarding the rear designation personally I've never found out for sure 100%. A nice example I purchased while on vacation back in England about 25yrs ago rear number was a '5' done in red?? the examples painted '1' that float around on forums personally I'm not too keen on.
Regards and welcome
Eric
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I know that my helmet was brought back by a member of the 28thID AEF, from Philadelphia. It then sat on a shelf in his den until 1962 when it came to me. He never said were or when he obtained the helmet, just that he "brought it back from the war". So actually I've owned this piece longer than anyone else.
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Very nice example. I also think it is a "9" 0n the back. Who knows why only part was removed. Maybe the original owner fell in battle, it was reissued to a member of another company, and the new owner was kia before he was able to compete the removal? I have an M16 that had a Foot Guard shield that was removed. I have always suspected that the piece had been recovered by the Germans from the field and reissued to a soldier not in the Foot Guard. Anyway, your example is fantastic. Cheers, Jim G.
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A friend of mine recently purchased a doughboy's foot locker from the family. In it was M'15 pickelhaube and a belt buckle both from Wurttemberg. Additional in the locker was the guy's journals that he kept during the war. He had written in his journal about being quartered in the barracks of a Wurttemberg regiment in 1919 and getting the helmet.
Funny thing along with the helmet and buckle, there was a single German should board, for the 398th IR. In my board collection I had a perfect match to it. Could this mean that this regiment was also up against boys from south eastern PA? I have noticed over the years of going to shows and such, that items from the same units (or at least army corps) do appear.
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398th IR interesting if I've time I'll check btw has anyone pictures of these helmets being worn front line? Think I have among prisoners taken by the Americans but its poor quality, there is another out there but the Guard insig. is different (IWM).
Eric
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