American 79th Division WW1 Brodie Helmet

ID: 3672

American 79th Division WW1 Brodie Helmet

Business Name: Raven Yard Antiques Shop
Located: Shropshire, UK
Name: Jan
Email: Enquiries@raven-antiques.com

Price: £395.00

Watch Item

Due to our desire as a club to talk to our customers directly, there is no payment system. However, pressing the 'reserve' button will prompt us to hold the item for one week, allowing to complete payment.

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Collection Available.

Description

The following is a lovely British-made Brodie helmet associated with the United States 79th Division.

Helmet Type

The Helmet, Steel, Mark I was introduced in the spring of 1916 as an improved version of the original Brodie helmet, featuring a redesigned liner and a mild-steel rim around the edge of the shell.

This example does not have the rubber ring fitted between the liner and shell, indicating that it is likely an earlier, pre-1917 production helmet. Due to delays in American helmet production following the United States’ entry into the First World War, British-made helmets and shells were supplied for use by American troops.

Painting

The painted Cross of Lorraine identifies the helmet with the U.S. 79th Division, which adopted the symbol as its divisional insignia.

The camouflage finish was likely applied towards the end of the war, possibly by an American serviceman. Such individually painted helmets were often retained and brought home as souvenirs of service in Europe.