Tell me what I have, Brodie Helmet identification request.

[Sentryduty]

Hello Gents, it's been a long time, but I am back with an ID request.

First questions and then the story.

What pattern of helmet is this, and given the unusual markings, is it a valuable relic, or is it some fantasy piece suitable to be stripped and restored to issue green?

The story, for many years I wanted a bog standard WW2 Cdn pattern helmet for my collection, mainly a display piece. I managed to receive this one in trade around 1998 but it had no backstory from the owner, it was basically in an attic, barn, or basement and of no personal value to them.

It kicked around with my personal items and when I was posted to the Patricia's in 2003 it went missing. I had thought it might have left at my grandparents home where I had some things in storage, but recent searches turned up nothing.

I gave it up as lost, but when visiting my younger brother over Christmas I mentioned it in passing and he shot off to the basement and returned with it. It had been left behind when I moved and to prevent it being absconded by another family member and flea marketed off for a fiver, he took it.

He later joined the RCR and had been wearing it annually as part of their "Mufti Parade" tradition. As he has remustered to Postie, it is of no value to him and I am glad to have it again.

Now that I have it back and have milsurps as a knowledge base, I am curious to see what the members can observe about it.

The helmet is in good condition but the unusual colour and markings have always prevented me from repainting it back to standard condition due to fear of unwittingly ruining some unknown historical piece.

The light green paint is clearly brush applied, and the side emblems appear to feature a "King's Crown" a winged device and perhaps a Lightning Bolt between on a white back ground. The front of the helmet is hand lettered with "P2" in a grey-blue paint.

The stampings appear to read:

C.L./C. 1942
93

The chinstrap has the faint remainder of what could be a C broad arrow, but it could just be my eye filling in blanks. I don't see any other additional details or markings.

Photos are attached.

Thanks for giving it a look.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[henry r]

Welcome back. This may sound a bit odd from a total stranger but twice in the last month i thought "i wonder what happened to that bloke" and here you are.

Sorry nfi about the helmet.

[browningautorifle]

Hello Gents, it's been a long time

Good to see you back...was wondering. Someone will be along to peg this one.

[BEAR]

Hi Darren,
Glad to have you back. Your helmet is a Canadian MkII made by the Canadian Lamp Company of Windsor, Ontario in 1942 (obviously). The number stamp could possibly be an inspector's stamp.

Many post war Canadian MKIIs were painted with a glossy outer paint. I have one with that gloss outer paint in OD.

Unfortunately, I can't help with the painted insignia.

I have included a picture of my chinstrap with the Canadian Broad Arrow stamp.

Hope this helps.

BEAR (BDY)

Attachment 89749

[Sentryduty]

I've been here and there, mostly focusing on my automotive hobby and motorcycles, managing a mildly successful YouTube channel on the same. The milsurps stuff for me has taken a tactical pause, the Canadian market has kind of hit a stasis with not many new pieces arriving to add to the collection. Just a reality of many international caches having been already sold off and it seems to have shifted to a more "flip for profit" market, my observation anyway.

I don't think I have put a round down range in 18 months, its a bit of a hassle to play the silly local gun club games.

I do have a plan roughed out to produce milsurps relevant YouTube channel content, but my time comes at a premium and Ian from Forgotten Weapons is doing a far better job in that niche than I think I could ever manage.

Hopefully we'll see some info on this brain bucket, the paintwork has me somewhat stumped.

---------- Post added at 08:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 PM ----------

Hi Darren,
Glad to have you back. Your helmet is a Canadian MkII made by the Canadian Lamp Company of Windsor, Ontario in 1942 (obviously). The number stamp could possibly be an inspector's stamp.

Many post war Canadian MKIIs were painted with a glossy outer paint. I have one with that gloss outer paint in OD.

Unfortunately, I can't help with the painted insignia.

I have included a picture of my chinstrap with the Canadian Broad Arrow stamp.

Hope this helps.

BEAR (BDY)

Attachment 89749

Thanks for this, seems the helmet is exactly what I want for my collection, those markings are still an odd bit though.

I wonder with the blue/grey details, if it was marked up by the airforce, hence why I am not recognizing an Army insignia (which I have a pretty good knowledge base of).

[Sentryduty]

Perhaps I managed to answer my own question?



"WW2 Royal Navy Telegraphist Trade Badge"


Wireless Telegraphist: (wings)



1st Class (crown above, star below)

2nd Class (Chief and Petty Officers) crown above

2nd Class (other ratings) star above, two below

3rd Class star above, star below

Trained Operator (W./T.) star above

Shore Wireless Service (Wings) (not in Pay Lists)



Petty Officer (crown above)

Telegraphist

A quick wander through ebay suggests that a regular olive green one is available for <$100 so I think I will leave this one as is.

[BEAR]

Royal Canadian Navy
Petty Officer
Shore Wireless Services
Attachment 89750

After WW2 the crown was replaced by the Maple Leaf

Hope this helps
BEAR (BDY)