Original World War Two Brodie Helmet, Type II, Home Front Hot on Sale

An original British Brodie helmet.  This is the Mk.2.,referred in it s entirety as Helmet, Steel, Mk.II, No.2.

The Brodie helmet was standardised during the First World War, but continued in use until well into the later stages of the Second World War.

This helmet is the Mk.2, introduced around 1938 and bearing more or less identical to the Mk.I, but differing in the chin strap and method of chin strap attachment.  Later Mk.2s had a different liner.

The helmet has three drill holes on the rim adjacent the chin strap bales.  Helmets graded for combat use did not have any holes present.  Those with one or two holes present indicated manufacturing defects, and whilst being of use for the military, not suitable for combat. The next lowest grade was with three holes, indicating a lower grade of steel.  At the bottom of the quality range was a Brodie with four drill holes.  Helmets of three and four drill hole quality were reserved for Home Front use, firewatchers and the like.

This helmet had a slightly deteriorated grey paint finish and I would therefore imagine it would have found use as a firewatchers helmet, who were often employees of British companies and would fire-watch from the factory premises roofs.

No maker mark is vIsobel.

There is however a Mk.I. liner, missing it s foam padding at the top and lace to connect the flaps of the lining. The liner is dated 1940 with a BML maker mark, which is not known, but may just be a poorly stamped BMB, short for Briggs Motor Bodies of Dagenham.