Just a quick help!

[Rhodes]

Just need a quick help, if one can do it.
The museum where I work, have a british/english helmet from WWI, with a black lozenge/diamond in a green rectangle/square. Any one can provide some info of what the symbol was, like regiment or if it was infantry/chevalier etc?

Only if it is something easy and quick!

Thanks!

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Got any photos of it?

[Rhodes]

Yes, but only at I can post it! In 30m!

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Well I got some time to wait. I've done some looking already but I haven't found anything close to the description you posted, I did find something similar to it but I'd say it's only a possible match. As Sherlock Holmes once said "Data, Data, Data, I cannot make bricks without clay!".

[Rhodes]

I found some displays in the web, but mainly Canadian or New Zealand badges. Here is the picture, from my cell phone, so: sorry for the quality and size!!!

[Eichhörnchen]

One for the experts, for sure.

Don't be too certain that it's British, however: the Americans wore the same pattern steel helmet back then and liked to paint Divisional signs (which I feel this may be) on them; I've just come across a photo of a US 5th Division soldier's helmet with the Red Diamond painted on.

Black diamond... no luck so far, except that it seems the British 7th Battalion North Staffs had a black diamond shoulder patch, but on yellow, I think.

[Oberon]

Try posting on this forum, they're pretty up on their WWI info, but from my scouring of the net I'm leaning towards the Australian 17th Battalion, that seems to be their colours, but honestly I can't say for certain.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...?showforum=150

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Try posting on this forum, they're pretty up on their WWI info, but from my scouring of the net I'm leaning towards the Australian 17th Battalion, that seems to be their colours, but honestly I can't say for certain.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...?showforum=150

well your half right I note that American diamond insignia are well painted on for MG battalions; this one is hastily stenciled....letting the helmet color fill in for black... PSSST!!! Hey Rhodes:

In May 2014, the UK's Health and Safety Executive, in consultation with the Imperial War Museum, advised that WWI-era helmets were not safe to handle, owing to the likelihood of them containing asbestos It advised that schools should not allow pupils to handle such artefacts, but should instead ensure that the objects were either safely disposed of, have the asbestos removed from the object or safely display the object.

Look but don't touch !

[Rhodes]

^ Asbestos, in metal? Right....
In serious note, that one I never touched but all of the WWI helmets that we have, only have the metal part, no leather or cloth parts.

I also saw,during research, that the diamond was very used by US and australian troops.Will look in the archives if I can locate the donations files. Thanks!

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Rhodes

^ Asbestos, in metal? Right....
In serious note, that one I never touched but all of the WWI helmets that we have, only have the metal part, no leather or cloth parts.

I also saw,during research, that the diamond was very used by US and australian troops.Will look in the archives if I can locate the donations files. Thanks!

http://www.bbc.com/news/education-27391955!

[Rhodes]

(...)all Brodie helmets should be assumed to contain asbestos(...)
Fine, but where in the helmet? Is it added to the metal, when doing the helmet? Or it was used in the part that rested in the head of the soldier (can not find the word for it, sorry), normally made of leather and other fiber materials.

[Dowly]

Any info on where this helmet was found? Also, are you sure the diamond is black, could it be dark purple?

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Any info on where this helmet was found? Also, are you sure the diamond is black, could it be dark purple?

Donation to the museum, have to check when, if I can find the dossier file!
Could be, have to check it again and see.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

So far I've not been able to find anything related to this insignia other then two which had a red diamond inside a blue square which was used by two British regiments in WW1. What I'm wondering at this point is either that the unit which had used this partiular insignia was disbanded or merged with another or another possiblity is that since many helmets from WW1 where used at the start of WW2, the insignia could be from a regiment at the start of WW2.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Neuerburg

So far I've not been able to find anything related to this insignia other then two which had a red diamond inside a blue square which was used by two British regiments in WW1. What I'm wondering at this point is either that the unit which had used this partiular insignia was disbanded or merged with another or another possiblity is that since many helmets from WW1 where used at the start of WW2, the insignia could be from a regiment at the start of WW2.

Aye, haven't been able to find anything that matches that. This could also be something that was improvised in the field.

Closest I've come is 2CER (Australian 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment) which use(d) big purple square with small red diamond inside.


Canadians seem to have used entirely different system (square with a shape on top).

So, I'm with Oberon in that it might be Australian.