By Redstalker ( August 30, 2015 at 10:50 pm)
· Filed under History forum
Here I have an M15 Engineers helmet. This particular model is made by Compagnie Coloniale (faint ink stamp in the crown of the helmet is just visible with the anchor and C either side). It is also possible to identify this helmet by the helmets comb and rivets. The helmet also has an ink stamp of B3 which indicates the size of around 63cm. The helmet has the second pattern liner (1916 onwards) and has from what I can see one coat of paint so factory applied. The engineers badge has a slightly different shade of blue but that is normal for these helmets as different factories used different shades of blue paint when constructing parts. The helmet bares the brass plaque on the helmets visor ‘ Soldat De La Grande Guerre ‘ (soldier of the Great War). From what I have read a soldier who was about to be demobilised could keep his helmet and a decree issued by the French government in December 1918 to award all soldiers the brass plaque whose units who had participated in active combat. Families of dead soldiers could apply to receive a helmet from stockpiles and apply for the plaque to have as a memorial of their lost loved ones. There were huge stockpiles of these helmets and so the French government had them sold off as souvenirs to anyone who wanted one with the brass plaque to the dissatisfaction and anger of French veterans. A space was left at the top of the plaque for the soldiers rank and name to be applied but not all soldiers applied the plaque to their helmets or had them inscribed and so this helmet could be one of those helmets or one of the ones the French government sold off as souvenirs. Thanks for looking guys cool militaria
Here I have an M15 Engineers helmet. This particular model is made by Compagnie Coloniale (faint ink stamp in the crown of the helmet is just visible with the anchor and C either side). It is also possible to identify this helmet by the helmets comb and rivets. The helmet also has an ink stamp of B3 which indicates the size of around 63cm. The helmet has the second pattern liner (1916 onwards) and has from what I can see one coat of paint so factory applied. The engineers badge has a slightly different shade of blue but that is normal for these helmets as different factories used different shades of blue paint when constructing parts. The helmet bares the brass plaque on the helmets visor ‘ Soldat De La Grande Guerre ‘ (soldier of the Great War). From what I have read a soldier who was about to be demobilised could keep his helmet and a decree issued by the French government in December 1918 to award all soldiers the brass plaque whose units who had participated in active combat. Families of dead soldiers could apply to receive a helmet from stockpiles and apply for the plaque to have as a memorial of their lost loved ones. There were huge stockpiles of these helmets and so the French government had them sold off as souvenirs to anyone who wanted one with the brass plaque to the dissatisfaction and anger of French veterans. A space was left at the top of the plaque for the soldiers rank and name to be applied but not all soldiers applied the plaque to their helmets or had them inscribed and so this helmet could be one of those helmets or one of the ones the French government sold off as souvenirs. Thanks for looking guys cool militaria