*British, WW1, Mark 1 “War Office Pattern” Brodie Helmet, Marked HS 435, with original liner and chinstrap and Brodie Label*
WW1 British Brodie Helmet. The exterior retains its original green grit paint finish. The interior of the Brodie helmet is complete with the original black oilskin liner and woolen pad, leather chinstrap, and inside the rim is stamped HS 435. HS stands for Hadfield Ltd of Sheffield who made helmets from 1916 – 1919 (Manufacturer and Steel Supplier). There is a fairly clear red Brodie stamp to liner. This red printed label is only present on the British helmet liners.
BRODIE’S STEEL HELMET
Registered No. 081,990.
WAR OFFICE PATTERN
PATENT No. 11803/15
The liner of the helmet is attached with one rivet in the center, top of the helmet. This rivet originally went through a liner support strap, and then the top pad, that consisted of an asbestos fiber pad that was sewn to a wool felt pad, with a ring of rubber tubing sewn between the two. Much of these elements have have disintegrated from age leaving the woolen pad.
The Brodie helmet is a steel combat helmet designed and patented in London in 1915 by Latvian inventor John Leopold Brodie (Latvian: Leopolds Janno Braude). Despite its recognized benefits, the helmet faced criticism, including from General Herbert Plumer, who noted it was too shallow, reflective, had a sharp rim, and a slippery lining. To address these issues, improvements were made. This version featured a folded rim, a two-part liner, and a matte khaki finish with sand, sawdust, or crushed cork to reduce reflectivity. By March 1916, some 140,000 helmets (Type ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘War Office’ pattern) had been issued to troops serving on the Western Front. Its modified version became known as the Helmet, Steel, Mark I in Britain and the M1917 Helmet in the United States. Informally, it was referred to by various names including the shrapnel helmet, battle bowler, Tommy helmet, and tin hat, while in the United States it was called the doughboy helmet. Other nicknames included the dishpan hat, tin pan hat, washbasin, and Kelly helmet. The German Army dubbed it the Salatschüssel (salad bowl).
*Condition*
The helmet is in very good condition commensurate with age and service. The leather chinstrap is sound & flexible, the black oil skin liner is dry and fragile and the wool pad is present though in poor condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEOXCBE_6576173411
