Air Raid Precautions Helmet
Item
Title
Air Raid Precautions Helmet
Description
A.R.P. Air Raid Precautions Helmet. It is marked DP&H - Department of Pensions & Health under the rim. These helmets are made of a mild steel and have spot welded chinstrap lugs that differentiate them from combat helmet bodies. Helmet which is made of mild steel and sprayed with a base coat of matte khaki paint, with a black metal screw at the top which secures the black oil cloth liner and head band. The chin strap lugs are spot welded with a khaki canvas elastic sprung chin strap and metal buckles secured to it. The helmet rim weld has a long overlap. Inside the helmet eight black rubber buffers support a head band with two rigid black compressed paper bands which are crisscrossed at the inner top and riveted to the headband all made of the same material, and secured by a single screw at the top of the helmet.
Date
Identifier
006.500.649
Provenance
A.R.P. - Air Raid Precautions Helmet. These were manufactured by G.S.W. - General Steel Wares of Toronto, Ontario for civil defense duties. They are made of a mild steel and have spot welded chin strap lugs that differentiate them from combat helmet bodies. These are often confused with the Mk.II on many online auction sites and people end up paying much more than the helmet is worth. Liner was manufactured by V.M.C. - Viceroy Manufacturing Co. and chin strap was manufactured by Backstay Standards. It is marked DP&H - Department of Pensions & Health under the rim. These have been known to be distributed to home army units as well to keep overseas stocks of Mk.II combat helmets up to par. Due to their wide usage during and after the war, they are seen in various colors and with many different markings for many military and civilian units.