WORLD WAR TWO BRITISH PARATROOPER STEEL HELMET

in ww2 british para helmets came as 3 types.
type 1....sorbo rubber helmet covered in cloth, used mainly for training and issued to SOE for para drops.
type 2....the rac shell with leather straps, the shell has a large fiber bumper pad around its cercumferance.....seldom encountered.
type 3...the rac shell with leather straps..issued 1942-44.
type 4.....the rac shell with webbing straps...issued 1944 to the 1960s..lastly as a training helmet.
in the 1960s when used for training the type 3 and 4 helmets were rebuilt many times so one with early leather straps can be found with a later date liner and vise versa...most were eventually sold off to the Canadian forces....from there they have come onto the collector market from the early 1990s.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

thanks for your comment and interest, good luck with your collecting

[@tonysmith8588]

Thank you C J again for the info. Also very informative videos. great!!!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

this is the type 2 shell with the rubber bumper pad around the rim...you are correct, they are seldom found nowadays

[@donoghue666]

i tend to find that its through lucky events come great things.....thats a pretty good shed find!

[@BigLisaFan]

My father attended an auction in 1977. Came home with a paratrooper helmet dated BMB 1944 and a post war jump jacket for the princely sum of 45 pounds.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

ha!! nice, i remember those days

[@CSM_Gray]

Nice helmet I'm starting to get into British helmets I've got 2 so far.

[@atanchor]

Always look forward to your informative video's. I have a 2nd pattern paratrooper helmet with fibre rim marked BMB1942, it has an Australian conversion with a WW2 canvas chin strap. It has the numerals 88/5 painted in red on the helmet would you know what this would be?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

hi, the web strap one was a swap at a militaria fair some years ago and the leather strap one came out of someones garden shed!!.

[@1977ajax]

Just to mention a similar helmet was issued to the RN, and was still in use in the late 70s at least, and probably well into the 80s. From memory it was dark blue with a smooth finish, and I think it only had a single chinstrap - could be wrong about the strap. I have every British helmet from Mk1 to Mk7 except the paratroop - a bit expensive now!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

If it was a single chin strap it was prob the afv helmet...same shell tho

[@tonysmith8588]

Thanks very much for the info. Best whes Tony

[@historicmilitaria1944]

no prob, thanks for the interest

[@bluerobert22]

Hiya great video mate

[@historicmilitaria1944]

thanks

[@Berkut-0001]

Hey nice video, the helmet was also used by the swiss armed forces for parachute, motorcycle and militarypolice troops xD later the linere where changed for swiss leather liner. From what information I found about in. Greetings from switzerland.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

thanks for the additional information

[@andysanger7723]

Hi Great video as always. Thanks for the information about the M24 stick grenade string.I know it's on your to-do list about the webbing strap version helmet. A quick Question sorry again Was the chin strap on this helmet Blancoed?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

originally tan web, the web strap helmet was in use into the 1980s and probably would have been blancoed in the 1960s

[@FlitkoSLO]

Hi! A have just found some photos from the Bruneval raid aftermath and the paras there are wearing paratrooper helmets similar to the ones you are showing but with a rim at the back. Were those helmets issued on a large scale because I've never seen them before? Also, what is the point of placing that rim in the back? Thank you for your answers.

[@Ground0-dn1cv]

Nice👍 Airborne is very Collectable now. Btw, I have the WW2 white metal para beret badge..it looks original to me, but I'd much appreciate it if you could take a look when I make a vid as its more your field.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

No prob,look forward to seeing it,especially the back of the badge

[@Ground0-dn1cv]

@@historicmilitaria1944 Thanks CJ my mother picked it up from an antique coin shop, she didn't pay much so took a chance on it.

[@eeuplad]

C J Campbell, what is the difference between the WWII British paratrooper helmet and the WWII British dispatch rider helmet? Great, informative video, by the way. Thanks for posting it.

[@eeuplad]

Thanks. I think over here in America there is a lot of confusion as to what constitutes the paratrooper helmet.

[@chrisward8820]

hi, what would you estimate the value of a 1942 genuine fibre rim paratroopers helmet? the reason I ask is I've bought two, one from France for £1200, and the other from Australia for £870. I know that both are genuine but have I done reasonably well or been over charged? many thanks in advance, Chris.

[@glennfleming]

Hi CJ - very informative. My dad was with the 6th Airborne on D-Day, helping knock those guns at Merville. I'm writing an account of his mission, and I'd like to speak with you about some stuff. How can I contact you?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

thanks for sharing, you can send me a pm via youtube

[@xxdarthravanxx9406]

I bought the 10st airborne easy company M1 WW2reproduction 101st Airborne helmet for collection which was £35+ shipping which was all together 49 but i checked for the real thing and as far as i know the go about £200-£500 max was about £1000 but my only word of advice is when you buy collections worn from actual people just make sure it's real, because when you buy something for a high price you will never know if it's fake, I remember someone selling the Wings badge but you won't find one unless it's issued by MOD and they will make sure you are in the regiment if you buy one, so just make sure, that you buy a small one for collections and not the actual thing because they might be issued by MOD.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

good info.

[@cosmorogers9617]

When you say the real thing you're referring to the m2 shells right? As fair as original us airborne helmets go they could be worth a hefty sum, especially if they can be linked to any 101st unit but most claimed to be on eBay are fakes or repo.

[@donoghue666]

great helmet! ive got a post war one...you must have paid an arm and a leg for that!

[@tonysmith8588]

Hi C J again. can you tell me when BMB stopped making the para helmets. Were there any para helmets with the orange ling made after the war and would they have had no date or BMB markings on the liner. also is there any chance on earth of obtaining a bumper pad origional or reproduction Thanks again

[@historicmilitaria1944]

hi, BMB (Briggs Motor Bodies,) just made the liners, the shells were not made after WW2, but were reissued up to the 1980s, it is possible to find them with postwar date liners...there was an ok repro bumper pad one on e bay a few days ago but priced at around £100....converted from an AFV crew helmet.

[@tonysmith8588]

Hi C J. I have just aquired a late ww2 Para helmet BMB. It has two letters on the side of the helmet ,V K in yellow or more probably gold. I have looked at dozens of images of para inscripions on para helmets but to no avail. Do you have any idea what they represent

[@historicmilitaria1944]

as far as im aware, "VK" exists in WW2 as a British Police area collar badge, "VK" being Kingston Upon Thames, London..perhaps it was issued to a civil Police motorcyclist?

[@Stealfos]

I got this exact same helmet with the webbing straps. But there isn't any stamp in it. Is this a war time helmet, or were these exact same helmets produced post-war either ?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

The shell was not continued after ww2, but stocks of the web strap helmet were rebuilt with postwar made straps and reused as training items

[@CGRstudios1]

What's the difference between a dispatch bike helmet and the paratrooper helmet? The shells look basically the same.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

the shells are the same but the modification for the paratrooper has additional liner holes...and an entirely different liner,band,chinstrap.

[@CGRstudios1]

C J Campbell thanks!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

no prob, you have some nice items, good luck with your collecting....

[@bearskulwarthunderisbae9258]

hey it's me again I'm about to purchase a ww2 mk11 british Brodie helmet with a little bit of liner in the center of it. It is online and they say it is dated but the pictures are not clear enough to see the numbers anything else I can us to make sure it's not a repro?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

hi, as far as I know, no one repros the WW2 shell...it should have the contractors initials and the date impressed into the metal of the steel shell......you can buy replacement liners ..either genuine or repro.....without actually viewing the item, that's all I can say unfortunately......if he has a refund system and youre not happy with it, even better.

[@bearskulwarthunderisbae9258]

C J Campbell ok I'll just purchess it and if its not what I wanted then i would know.

[@dougkale8181]

Great video. Hoping that you might be able to help me with a helmet that I purchased. It is a British paratrooper helmet. The guy that I bought it from was given it in 1970 by a WW2 US Army vet who brought it back with him. He had a lot of trouble parting with it. It has the 4th generation webbing chinstrap. At some point it was brush painted with green paint. It has a yellow foam instead of black. I also do not see any stamp on the leather liner. There is a remnant of a sticker on the side but it is painted over. Also, I can see a prominent insignia on the front that has been painted over. It appears to be hand painted and looks faintly red. It has two wings on either side and "VP" between the wings. The insignia looks to be in good shape if I could get the top layer of paint off. First, do you have any idea of what the insignia stands for? Second, is there a way to safely remove the top layer of paint so that I can free the original layer? Any advice would be appreciated.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

hi,thanks for your comment and interest. the VP insignia is of the "Vunerable Points" section, usually MP personnel located in sensitive areas..top layer can be removed by lightly scouring with fine wire wool, tho its likely you will not get all the paint off..its best just to have a go in the area of the badge.

[@dougkale8181]

C J Campbell Thanks. That was fast. I will try your idea with fine wool. Can you tell me if the VP marking would / could have been used in WW2? It's a nice helmet either way. Also, I haven't been able to find a date stamp on the leather.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

Doug Kale the date stamp and maker mark was lightly stamped, its possible yours has worn smooth, the VP insignia was also worn as a cloth shoulder patch on the uniform....as a cloth badge it was a blue square or in some instances a diamond with "VP" in red.it is a WW2 marking, so its genuine to the helmet.

[@chrisward8820]

sorry to bother you and please don't think that I'm being rude but, I'm sure that there were no para helmets produced in 1945 according to the book 'british Airborne Headress'. I personally have never seen one. great video though, very enjoyable! 😁

[@historicmilitaria1944]

+Chris Ward hi, the helmet would be on issue right up to the mid 1980s,so its feasible that liners would have been continued to be made as the rubber buffers wore out...one can even find them with no maker or date to the liner. at least one uk dealer had one for sale with a 1951 date liner!!

[@chrisward8820]

Very interesting! I live the videos that you do! Very informative!!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

Chris Ward thanks, that's appreciated a lot.

[@katelock5588]

Sorry but 1945 dated liners were never made ,helmet is a restored example

[@historicmilitaria1944]

not only were 1945 dated liners made...I refer you to one of the above answere from a year ago, but also 1945 date leather chinstraps can be found on paratrooper helmets.

[@gunnerjames1056]

I'm buying one with a liner having leather straps and sweat band marked 7 1/2 BS 45. Who is BS?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

William Beardmore Steel Co. of Glasgow, Scotland, is the maker of your liner, they used "BS" maker mark

[@gunnerjames1056]

@@historicmilitaria1944 It's arriving via courier tomorrow afternoon. I have only seen a few photos, I can't wait to get a closer look, as I have not seen it or held it in person. Thanks CJ for helping me with the liner maker!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

@@gunnerjames1056 no prob, pleased you have a new addition to your collection

[@gunnerjames1056]

@@historicmilitaria1944 After receiving the helmet yesterday, I will have to make a video Sunday. Quite an interesting example. Thanks C J!

[@pascal3244]

Hey CJ great video!! If been looking for information about the late war helmet with the webbing straps and you are the first one if finally found talking about it haha. But maybe you know this did 1st Airborne use these types of helmets (so with the webbing instead of leather) during Market Garden? I posted pictures of the helmet here: www.reddit.com/r/wwiireenacting/comments/86lurq/ww2_british_paratrooper_helmet/ Also on a side note any idea what these helmets would be worth? Since I'm looking to buy one and don't wanne waste my money.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

hi, price is about £300 upwards

[@chrisward8820]

hi, what would you estimate the value of a 1942 genuine fibre rim paratroopers helmet? the reason I ask is I've bought two, one from France for £1200, and the other from Australia for £870. I know that both are genuine but have I done reasonably well or been over charged? many thanks in advance, Chris

[@historicmilitaria1944]

+Chris Ward in Euros, for example a common type 3 or four would retail at about 700 euros in the Netherlands, the same type would be about £400 in the UK....the fibre rim version only lasted till about 1942 when the rim was ordered removed and would usually retail for double the UK price of a regular para helmet, so the uk price of a fibre rim model would be £800-£900, but theres not many about...I reckon you may have been overcharged on the French purchase...you are lucky to have two examples...

[@chrisward8820]

Thank you so much for your quick response!

[@historicmilitaria1944]

Chris Ward no prob, glad to help.