There were two basic official designs of steel helmet for civilian use; the Mk.II 'Service' type (right), and the later 'Civilian' type (far right), introduced in 1941
as a result of shortages.
Helmet, Steel, Mk.II
Made of manganese steel, the Mk.II had been requested for A.R.P. use in 1937, the introduction of steel helmets in the Auxiliary Fire Service being announced in June, 1938. [1]
The assembly of new helmets to overcome shortages began in September 1938 (the time of the Munich Crisis), and although the Police and Fire services actually received supplies ahead of the armed services, issue to the A.R.P. services only began in early 1939. A.R.P. helmets were initially painted a grey-green colour, but this was later changed to black during 1939. [2]
Helmet, Steel, Mk.II No.2
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| Helmet, Steel, Mk.II No.2d (4 holes) |
Severe shortages following Dunkirk in 1940 lead to the decision to accept into A.R.P. service, helmets that had in some way failed to meet military specification. These helmets had a single hole drilled into the brim near the chin strap attachment point to identify them as manganese steel rejects. They were painted black and designated as Helmet, Steel, Mk.II No.2A, effectively grade 2 quality.
In addition, there were three further variants of Mk.II No.2 helmet, with varying compositions involving mild steel. To further distinguish them, these helmets were painted battleship grey, with two, three or four holes being drilled in the brim and were known as the Mk.II No.2B, No.2C and No.2D respectively.
The latter was of very poor quality; some examples (such as that seen here at right) lacked the standard lining and chin strap, having instead pieces of sorbo sponge rubber glued to the shell and a poor-quality strap roughly rivetted on.
Priority issue of these grade 2 helmets was to industrial workers in vulnerable areas [3], with production reaching 80,000 a week by October 1940. [4]
The Civilian Helmet (Steel)
The requirements of frontline troops were different to those of civilians. Soldiers needed protection against small, high-velocity matter such as shrapnel and bullets, whereas civilians were expected to be more at risk from larger but slower-moving objects such as falling pieces of A.A. shrapnel and debris such as would fall from damaged buildings.
The Mk.II helmet could resist penetration of a lead ball moving at 700 feet per second due to the quality of steel. However, as spent bullets and falling shrapnel had a terminal velocity of 400 feet per second, the civilian helmet needed only be able to resist this. The steel was therefore of a lower grade, but the helmet was domed to create a space between the shell and the wearer's head, to provide enough space for the shell to dent inwards and stop the incoming fragment without injuring the wearer. [5]
In the Civilian Helmet, a good liner that would help reduce the impact was needed. This was formed from four webbing bands attached to a sweatband and tied to the shell by a bootlace woven through a series of holes in the shell. The individual was required to attach the liner themselves, a short instruction leaflet being provided with each.
As the helmet was deeper than the Service type, no chin-strap was provided, although suitable lugs were provided in case anyone wished to make their own, as frequently was the case.
Sale of the Civilian Helmet for 5/6 (5 shillings and sixpence) was announced in July, 1941, affording "a standard of protection virtually as good as the Service type helmets in mild steel." [6]
The helmet was not completely trusted by those who had them, however, and people wanted the Service Mk.II helmet instead. Indeed, the Mk.II was looked upon as a badge of rank amongst Fire Guard officers, and if you had one, you were deemed more important than somebody with the Civilian type, even though your superior may have one.
The Ministry of Home Security found itself snookered when the Fire Guard service was formed, partly from the Wardens' service. Those wardens who had Mk.II helmets were allowed to retain them, and Fire Guard Officers were issued them, but otherwise, Fire Guards were to be issued with the Civilian Helmet. All members of the Fire Guard service were subsequently to be issued Civlian helmets. The problem was that the authorities did not want to make any distinction between the Service and Civilian helmets for fear of being seen to admit that the latter was of inferior quality, leading to possible morale and recruitment problems.
A memo went out stating that issue of the Mk.II to Fire Guard officers could only be made if it could be demonstrated that they were exposed to greater danger in the course of their duties, or else there would be a risk of "undermining the faith which we hope Fire Guards have in the Civilian type." [7] The blunt response was "Faith does not stop shrapnel, and it is admitted that the Civilian helmet is not particularly good at it either[!]" [8]
| Miscellaneous Helmet Markings | ||
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| Post Warden | Warden (Repainted Ambulance Helmet) | Police |
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| NFS - National Fire Service (Repainted Police Helmet) |
RPW - Repair Party Water | M - Messenger |
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| City of London Civic Guard | A - Ambulance | G - unknown (Plasfort helmet) |
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| SFP - Supplementary Fire Party | \\ // - unknown | |
References
- The Times, 16 June 1938
- Cotton, M. 'British Steel Helmets 1935-45' in Militaria Magazine (English) No.9 October 1994.
- HO 186 /1591
- HO 186/1121
- HO 196/7
- Ministry of Home Security, Protective Helmets for Civilian Workers July 1941. HO 186/1591
- 17 January 1944, HO 186/1600
- 8 February 1944, HO 186/1600