Gus’ Gear-Foreign Helmets

This week on Gus’ Gear I will cover some of the other helmets worn during the First World War. Since Joe laughed at my request to have my compensation doubled, I am going to post no German items this week, I suspect that will get me suspended for at least two weeks for insubordination, but I could use the break.

This is an example of the Austrian version of the German M1916 Stahlhelm. Austria also used a helmet that was unique made by the Berdorfer Company, an example of which I do not have. The shell of the Austrian helmet was nearly identical to the German model.

This photo shows the liner and chin strap of the Austrian Stahlhelm. The liner is made from oil cloth, due to a shortage of leather, and the chin strap is of canvas. The grommets in the chin strap are a feature found often in Austrian produced canvas equipment, the strap is attached to the helmet shell with a bail riveted at a point above the German anchor post and it makes it possible to tell if you are looking at an Austrian or German helmet from the outside view.

Early in 1915, French General Joffre recommended adopting a steel helmet for use in the trenches, as the head was the most exposed part of the soldier’s body. The Adrian helmet was developed by Louis Adrian with the help of Louis Kuhn who worked for Japy, the company that produced the first helmets. The helmet was not designed to protect against small arms fire, but as protection against Shrapnel and other low velocity projectiles that were causing the majority of the fatal head wounds. The helmets were constructed of four parts; the body, comb, front and rear visor. A badge of the branch of service was affixed to the front of the helmet. In this case, a flaming bomb with “RF” for the Metropolitan Infantry. This helmet was also issued to colored American troops who served with the French Army as well as American volunteers who drove ambulances.

This photo shows the liner and the corrugated aluminum spacers can be seen between the shell and the liner.

This example is an engineer’s helmet with the badge depicting a helmet and cuirass with “FR” embossed. It is possible to see two shades of blue paint on this helmet, the lighter blue was used early and was covered later with a darker shade.

This is a Belgian helmet, it is the same construction as the French helmet, but painted Khaki and has the badge of the lion’s head Belgian Army. Many of the Allied forces used Adrian helmets, including; Russia, Romania, Serbia, Greece as well as the Polish Legion and the Czech Legion. All having their own distinct badge. Many of these helmets have been produced recently using reproduction badges on original helmets. These can be a mine field for collectors.

Italy first bought helmets from France, they were usually painted in the same blue color encountered on early French helmets, but did not have the two holes in the front for the badge. Years ago, I had an example in my collection that had the insignia of engineers stenciled on the front. The helmet shown here is one produced in Italy using a simpler process, made of two parts, the body with both visors in one piece and the comb. This is an early model 1916 Lippmann helmet with the comb riveted to the body, later they were spot welded in place.

This photo shows the liner and chin strap of the British helmet, the split rivet attaching the chin strap bail to the shell is one of the features that distinguish the British helmet from the American.

This is a British manufactured helmet that was used by the Portuguese Army early in their participation. The corrugations in the crown were found to allow projectiles to penetrate easier and these helmets were later replaced with the standard British Brodie when supplies allowed. This type of helmet will also be encountered painted khaki and are most likely helmets that were purchased by British officers before the standard issue helmet was available

This photo shows the liner of the Portuguese helmet, it was just a felt dome with a leather sweatband that was sewn to the helmet through small perforations around the base of the crown.

This is the American M1917 helmet based on the British Brodie, one of the distinctive features of the American helmet is they were painted with sawdust to give it a rough finish to eliminate glare.

This shows the liner of the American helmet, very similar to the British example, notice the domed rivet holding the chin strap bail, an indication of American manufacture. That being said, a lot of US soldiers were issued British helmets, and American helmets were issued to British soldiers too.

A lot of helmets in the US are encountered with insignia painted on the front, I do not normally collect painted helmets, this one is an exception as it was worn by an Idaho boy who served in the 145th Field Artillery. This was part of the 40th Division from Idaho and Utah. The 40th Division was broken up and used as replacements, but the 145th FA served under the 40th Division in France. Most if not all the American helmets with painted insignia were painted after the end of the hostilities to be worn in home coming parades in the United States.