Description
Physical description
helmet
Bowl-shaped steel helmet showing remains of crude dappled camouflage colours of light brown and mid-green on an apple green field. The brim is quite shallow in width & the lining system comprises a padding fixed to the crown comprising layers of felt, lint, and cotton wool. A six-tongue liner of black American cloth is attached to the liner band and features a tape tie that would permit the wearer to adjust the fit of the liner to suit, there being apertures at the ends of the tongues. Around the outside of the liner is fixed a series of 12 rubber buffers of tubular shape, acting as vents and absorbers. The liner is fixed to the apex of the crown via a copper rivet, visible only from the outside of the crown. The two-part leather chinstrap is present and features an open buckle and single prong arrangement, secured to the underside of the brim by rectangular wire loops that are fixed either side of the helmet by single split pins.
Label
First World War period British Army issue 'Brodie' pattern steel helmet ('shrapnel helmet'). As a response to the high proportion of head wounds (many caused by artillery shrapnel) the British Army introduced a protective steel helmet for its combatant forces based on a patented design of John L Brodie in August/September 1915. The helmet's characteristic shallow steel bowl shape became the model configuration for subsequent refinements and improvements of the basic Brodie design.
History note
A steel helmet had been issued to the French troops in the spring of 1915. In August and September, the British authorities made experimental types of the helmet invented by Mr Brodie, of which the second, "B" was approved. Manufacture was begun towards the end of September and the first were sent to France for field testing.
Known as the 'shrapnel helmet', these proved to be successful and initially 50 helmets per battalion were considered appropriate. There were two types, the Type 'A', being made of magnetic mild steel, and the Type 'B', of non-magnetic manganese steel (three times more resistant than the Type 'A'. Both of these forms featured identical liner and chinstrap systems and externally appeared similar, having a high domed profile with steep sides and a brim of shallow width. As the mechanical process of production changed the shape of the helmet altered slightly, seeing the angle of the brim reduced as well the height of the dome, being less pronounced. The paint finishes on Types 'A' & 'B' were similar, featuring a mottled camouflage of light green, light brown and orange on an apple green field. This form was also repeated on the 'War Office' pattern but by February 1916 a more non-reflective dull green was more prominent.
Stamped (under brim at rear)
BS 42