british paratropper helmet?

Hi! Iam a novice in this area so this might sound stupid but I was wondering if any one could tell me if this helmet my father found in a skip during the 70s is a paratroper helmet? it has been suggested that it might be a dispatchriders helmet becuse of the D at the front. If its not what colud the D stand for? It is marked bmb 1944 and has the users name Pincher written inside. The chinstrap is made out of canvas with a leather chin holder it is has been cut at som point becuse there seems to be a piece missing. would be very gratefull for replies.

Lots of thanks
thomas

Hello,
Looks like you have a very nice Para helmet. The BMB and date 1944. Made by Briggs Motor Bodies in 1944.
Scott

Thats great thank you very much for the help. Have you any idea what the D stands for?
regards thomas

I believe the wartime chinstrap was only in leather but still a nice helmet, the chinstrap is just post war.

Chris

Hello,
I am not sure what the D stands for, I will see if I can find out. The chinstrap could be post war but the all leather straps were early war. Later in the war this style web strap was introduced. Odds are the helmet is correct and complete wartime issue.
Scott

The Dispatch rider helmet might had the same shell but definitely a different suspension set-up. This is unequivocally a parachutist's helmet. As stated before webbing straps do not necessarily preclude WWII issue. Sometimes a lucky troll on EBay UK will net you unissued straps for this helmet.

Yes I agree with the others on this it's a very nice Para helmet in pretty damn good condition when you think how old it is, web straps are fine for this to be a Wartime (as dated) helmet, the D is quite probably D Coy of whatever Battalion the guy belonged to, would be extremely valuable if it where someone from D Coy Ox & Bucks Light Infantry as they where the first allied troops to land in France during WW2 and took the Bridge over the river Orne which then became known as Pegasus Bridge. How great would that be? And also highly unlikely but you never know

GR

I might add that it still is a valuable helmet and to be found in a skip well...... Very Nice !!! Glad your father found it and it didn't end up as landfill so well done Dad

GR

That would be be something a D Day helmet! a shame one will never find out. Thanks a lot for all your replies its been very informative and my dad was very pleased
Thanks again
regards
Thomas

Hello Again, I've just ordered a book called The Devil's Own Luck: From Pegasus Bridge to the Baltic, 1944-45
by Denis Edwards who was a Sniper with D Coy Ox & Bucks LI and in it there is a complete list of all those that took part in the landings that night (In Gliders), if a find a guy called Pincher I'll let you know
Don't hold ya breath though

GR

Thanks! that would be great i will keep my fingers crossed.

I don't ever recall seeing any wartime photos of brit paras with web straps, certainly nothing from d-day or arnhem, but learn something everyday, any pics of these webstraps in a wartime photo?

Chris

Grim Reaper wrote:Yes I agree with the others on this it's a very nice Para helmet in pretty damn good condition when you think how old it is, web straps are fine for this to be a Wartime (as dated) helmet, the D is quite probably D Coy of whatever Battalion the guy belonged to, would be extremely valuable if it where someone from D Coy Ox & Bucks Light Infantry as they where the first allied troops to land in France during WW2 and took the Bridge over the river Orne which then became known as Pegasus Bridge. How great would that be? And also highly unlikely but you never know

GR

Need to have a look myself now!!! got me thinking.........
You know when you have a very certain idea in your head and are positive your right but your wrong......well I hope I'm not having one of those moments now anyways I'll have a good look and see cheers for that

GR

Excellent helmet...proper chinstrap or not, I would not turn away from it. Congrats!

I'm sure you can find one(leather chinstrap) on ebay...I recall seeing one on there recently. I would just leave it as is though.

Dale

Well I'm back....What I have found out from the book I received the other day is that certainly there wasn't anyone called Pincher in the Coup de Main Force, we knew it was a long shot, but worth checking, I would safely say that the D represents D Coy but of which Battalion or even Regiment (not neccessarilly Parachute regt as other units where Air/Gliderborne). There still a slim possibility that it was in fact D Coy 2nd Ox & Bucks, possibly a reinforcement (Battle Casualty Replacement) as for the web strap, it most certainly wasn't WW2 as they were leather, something Ive learnt recently. But as most certainly the shell and definitely the liner are WW2 then Im assuming that as the helmets where used right up until the 60's & 70's the chinstrap has just been replaced, Im sure any Para who was issued that helmet would have seen the 1944 date stamp then immediately thought of Arnhem and been chuffed to bits, I know I would have been.......if I'd been a Para

GR

Hello again! Thanks for getting back to me .
Did a bit of research as well and found these photos ( one very sad one ) from market garden and D day on another forum. witch acording to them show webbed chin straps, what do you think?
Aparantly my helmet is a mark 3 para helmet. Web chinstraps it said where mostly used by poles and canadians but a few where issued to brits (mostly during operation varsity) it also said as you say that they where used right up to the 70s.
regards
thomas

Excellant really....... thats brilliant news, I always had a feeling about webbing straps ever since working in a Militaria shop on Saturdays as a youngster and definately remember a lovely Wartime one coming in and wanting it myself, when Zvez mentioned that he thought only leather ones were wartime it threw me.......so I thank for putting up the picture of your lovely Para Helmet and......clearing up my memory

p.s. Alis klah ref the p.m.

GR

Bloody hell just noticed the battle damage on the helmet in the bottom pic......yes indeed very sad, its probable thats how he met is end

GR