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Item No.:	8074	Price :	SOLD
Item :	VERY FINE, WWI, MK.I BRODIE HELMET W/ CRUISE CHAIN MAIL VISOR

Description :

This is a rare, original, WWI, British Mk.I Brodie Helmet that is fitted with the 1st Pattern chain mail visor invented by Captain Richard Cruise. This helmet was designed as a response to the numerous eye injuries encountered in trench warfare. The chain mail was a splinter shield that was designed to stop splinters, pebbles, dirt, and even small shrapnel from impacting the eyes. The visor could be folded back over the brim and secured to the two hooks when not in use. Some sources say that only about 5000 of these helmets were made. They entered service in June 0f 1917 at Messines. They are known to have been worn by the Irish guards at Ypres in July of that year. They were not popular with the troops, because of the movement of the chain mail against the wearer's face and were often worn backwards. Many soldiers simply removed the visor. This helmet is in very fine condition. It retains nearly all of its field drab paint with the saw dust roughening. The visor is complete. The chin strap is complete with the two metal clips for the visor. It remains flexible. The liner is very fine, with one small rubbed area on the oil cloth sweat band. The The netting and adjustment cord are complete. The Khaki wool in the top of the helmet has just a couple tiny moth nips. Oddly, the helmet was not made with rubber cushioning doughnut normally found in British Helmets. There is no evidence that it was ever fitted with one. The helmet retains its original paper instruction label and the top leather strap is clearly marked with the size "6 7/8". This is a very rare WWI helmet in superb condition. Stock no. 21247

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