Home Front Helmets

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Dieppe, May 30, 2004.

  1. Dieppe

    Dieppe Senior Member

    Does anyone know if there any books that cover the types of helmets used on the Home Front in the UK during WW2?
    I'm interested in starting a collection of the steel helmets used and I'm looking for pointers on what to look for regarding markings etc.

    Many thanks :)
     
  2. Originally posted by Lee@May 30 2004, 10:11 AM
    Does anyone know if there any books that cover the types of helmets used on the Home Front in the UK during WW2?
    I'm interested in starting a collection of the steel helmets used and I'm looking for pointers on what to look for regarding markings etc.

    Many thanks :)
    Hi,iI have a contemporary WW2 set of Books that has a page of Home Service Units Helmets Illustrated in B/W theres not many but its a start! ATB Roger.
    From:"The Second Great War" Vol:4;Published by Hammerton[Waverley Book Co;Ltd;Amalgamated Press Ltd;]
     
  3. Dieppe

    Dieppe Senior Member

    Roger - Thanks very much for that :)
     
  4. Dieppe

    Dieppe Senior Member

    Roger - Thanks mate! And thanks for the e-mails :D
     
  5. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    All, forgive me...but do we have a dedicated "space"/post for Brit Home Front Helmets somewhere here?....I've been looking and can find bits'n'bobs, here'n'there...but is there a dedicated one somewhere that I'm missing?
     
  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    In 1942, while waiting to be called up, I was living in a small village near Luton called Houghton Regis and commuting to London, by train, on a daily basis.
    I became an Air Raid Warden and used to patrol the streets after nightfall.

    In addition to the above, I was an official fire watcher in the clothing facttory at which I worked.

    At nighttime I wore the official CD steel helmet but when on duty in London I wore a non metal helmet bought from Dunnes, a well known men's outfitters
    During the many daytime raids we experienced in London this helmet was very helpful in protecting me from red hot shrapnel that fell in showers on the factory roof.

    Ron
     
    Sussex by the Sea likes this.
  7. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    I'm trying to find out about an unusual marking (and colour) on a wartime MKII "Tommy" helmet.....I've seen an awful lot of Police helmets from the war but not this one. I've got loads of suggestions re what it COULD be but I'm keen to know what it IS.

    I know there were loads of Police forces and that they sometimes had different helmet markings for the same rank.....but "LBC"??????....
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Drayton

    Drayton Senior Member

    The outfitters, originally hatters, were named Dunn, not Dunne. The firm's founder had six sons, and all six were conscientious objectors in the First World War. The fact might have been lost to history had a MP, Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke, not asked a Question about it in the House, to which the obvious answer was that the men were exercising the right to refuse to fight as allowed by Parliament.

    Making headgear protective against weaponry appears consistent with their view.
     
  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Drayton

    Happy to accept that it was Dunn & not Dunnes and I certainly didn't know about the 6 sons being conscientious objectors !

    Ron
     
  10. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    London Borough Council?

    Another Policeman, WR (War Reserve) on his helmet, Picture from Front line 1940 - 41 Published 1942
    No indication of what part of the country he came from
    police helmet.jpg
     
  11. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    Here's one. These were worn by the War Reserve staff with "WR" generally being applied via Water Slide Transfer. Like a lot of the Services, the Police had a considerable number of helmet markings
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  12. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    Here's a nice one (in my opinion at least)

    Most people would call this a Post Wardens helmet although in London they might've called it a Senior Wardens...but hey, whatever....

    Some of the Regions within London adopted and applied their Coat of Arms in water-slide-transfer form - this one's from Finchley...not the most ornate but still nice to find...to date I've seen Stoke Newington, Bermondsey, St Pancras, Friern Barnet....and I'm still looking.......
     

    Attached Files:

    ARPCDHG, RCG and Tricky Dicky like this.
  13. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    'not sure of interest levels here re these things.....here's an interesting one (to me at least)....Ambulance Officer but over time the earlier-applied "CS" (Casualty Services) has re-appeared from beneath the white paint - the "CS" would almost certainly have been white lettering on a black shell.
     

    Attached Files:

    ARPCDHG and dbf like this.
  14. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    IMG_1869.JPG
    This one's obvious....but it's kinda not obvious too. Black "DOCTOR" on white helmets is fully documented but I'm struggling to find what sort of Doc wore white on black. I've seen several but I can't track them down to a specific role or Region. Maybe the answer will come from this Forum.....??????
     
  15. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    'never too sure how interested folk here are in these things......I like 'em and have a soft spot for Wardens helmets. This one doesn't have the stripes, bands, diamonds, stars or white paint associated with the higher positions...and of course it now means I've got to track down those helmets from Post 54, Post 53, Post 52, Post 51 and so on.....hopefully someone here has a similar one?
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  16. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    ....'may be a tad premature....and there's an element of trumpet blowing I guess but in answer to the original question from "Dieppe" some 14 years ago (FOURTEEN?!!) I attach a promotional leaflet I've produced for what I hope will be "out there" late this/early next year......hopefully....

    Wish me luck.........
     

    Attached Files:

    Tricky Dicky, timuk and dbf like this.
  17. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Good luck then!
    Love the cover btw.
     
  18. jeffbubble

    jeffbubble Senior Member

    Mr Slaters Helmet. Worn during Glasgow Blitz
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  19. 2 Black Bands

    2 Black Bands Active Member

    I like that......unusual marking.....
     

Share This Page