Description
Physical description
Helmet & net
Olive green painted steel bowl shaped steel helmet fitted with MKII linseed oil based leather cloth liner system, and a MKII sprung canvas chinstrap (the cruciform black rubber bump pad component is missing from the liner). The helmet features three holes punched to the rim, each side of the chinstrap brackets. A removable olive green helmet net is attached.
Label
Following the Dunkirk evacuation in June 1940, the armed forces had the priority requirement for new and replacement issue of steel helmets above and beyond the requests of other organizations such as the Civil Defence Services. Because of the shortfall, the Ministry of Supply commandeered vast stocks of helmets made by commercial retailers, and those that were not of the equal standard to the military specification were downgraded for use by the various non-military organizations. In addition to this category of reject helmets, production of helmets made of mild steel began, and although they did not have the ballistic protection afforded by the normal military issue they were approved for widespread issue to civil defence services.
In order to recognize the difference between the two issues, holes were drilled to the brims adjacent to the chinstrap fixing lugs. They were also painted a distinctive shade of battleship grey. The 'grade 2' helmets were designated, 'Helmet, Steel, MkII No.2', and those made of manganese steel as, 'Helmet, Steel, MkII No.1'.
The following is a table of types of grade 2 helmets and their distinctions of appearance:
Designation Composition Colour Holes
MkII No.2A Mang.steel reject Black 1
MkII No.2B Mild steel strip Grey 2
MkII No.2C Mild steel plate Grey 3
MkII No.2D Mild steel Grey 4
With production being disturbed due to enemy activity, the requirements of the Home Guard of 6,000 units per week were not met, therefore grade 2 helmets were issued (painted olive green) but subsequently grade 1 helmets were issued to make up the shortfall.
History note
Following the Dunkirk evacuation in June 1940, the armed forces had the priority requirement for new and replacement issue of steel helmets above and beyond the requests of other organizations such as the Civil Defence Services. Because of the shortfall, the Ministry of Supply commandeered vast stocks of helmets made by commercial retailers, and those that were not of the equal standard to the military specification were downgraded for use by the various non-military organizations. In addition to this category of reject helmets, production of helmets made of mild steel began, and although they did not have the ballistic protection afforded by the normal military issue they were approved for widespread issue to civil defence services.
In order to recognize the difference between the two issues, holes were drilled to the brims adjacent to the chinstrap fixing lugs. They were also painted a distinctive shade of battleship grey. The 'grade 2' helmets were designated, 'Helmet, Steel, MkII No.2', and those made of manganese steel as, 'Helmet, Steel, MkII No.1'.
The following is a table of types of grade 2 helmets and their distinctions of appearance:
Designation Composition Colour Holes
MkII No.2A Mang.steel reject Black 1
MkII No.2B Mild steel strip Grey 2
MkII No.2C Mild steel plate Grey 3
MkII No.2D Mild steel Grey 4
With production being disturbed due to enemy activity, the requirements of the Home Guard of 6,000 units per week were not met, therefore grade 2 helmets were issued (painted olive green) but subsequently grade 1 helmets were issued to make up the shortfall.