CAMOUFLAGED DESERT TAN WWII BRODIE MKII SOUTH AFRICAN JAGER-RAND STEEL HELMET DATED 1942

A GENUINE WORLD WAR II BRODIE MKII SOUTH AFRICAN STEEL HELMET. DATED 1942 ON THE CHIN STRAP FIBRE SUPPORT, COMPLETE WITH AN ORIGINAL JAGER RAND LEATHER LINER AND CHIN STRAP.

SOUTH AFRICAN MADE: IN WW2 SEVERAL COMMONWEALTH NATIONS, SUCH AS AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA PRODUCED LOCAL VERSIONS OF THE MK II. THE SOUTH AFRICAN MK II IS BASED ON THE BRITISH M1916, AND THE BODIES OF THESE HELMETS WERE MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA BY THE TRANSVAAL STEEL PRESSING SYNDICATE. THE LINERS WERE MADE BY JAGER RAND. THEY WERE 3-HOLE PUNCHED. DURING WWII THESE HELMETS WERE DESIGNATED AS MKII'S.

THREE HOLES IN BODY: THE THREE HOLES DRILLED IN THE REAR OF THE SHELL WERE FOR A NECK FLAP, BUT SELDOM WERE THESE SEEN AND VERY FEW IF ANY PICTURES ACTUALLY EXIST OF THEM BEING USED. 

DESERT SAND PAINT JOB: IT COMES WITH A CORRECT EARLY WAR "DESERT TAN" PAINT JOB, AS USED IN THE AFRICA CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR.

STAMPED JAGER RAND 1942: THE LEATHER LINER HAS THECORRECT CIRCULAR PAD AND STAMPED JAGER RAND 1942 ON THE FIBER SUPPORT.

WHAT ABOUT THE PAPER STUCK ON LINER? THE LINER HAS SOME PAPER STUCK TO THE LINER, WHICH WAS USED DURING POST WAR STORAGE TO STACK THESE HELMETS ONE A TOP ANOTHER WITHOUT STICKING. 

SPRING CHIN STRAP ENDS: THE CHIN STRAP IS IN THE TYPICAL LIGHT TAN COLOR. THE SPRING LOADED ENDS ARE STILL IN TACT, BUT THEIR FABRIC COVERING IS WORN ON THE ONE SIDE. THE CENTRAL PORTION IS ROUGH CANVAS, WITH A WORKING BUCKLE IT IS HOWEVER SNAPPED IN TWO.

MARKINGS: JÄGER-RAND, ARROW WITHIN U (UNION DEFENCE FORCE MARK), 1942 AND NO 100.

SIZE: 30CM OUTSIDE DIAMETER 10CM HIGH

CONDITION: ELASTICISED SPRING CHIN STRAP PARTLY PERISHED. CANVAS STRAP BROKEN. OTHERWISE IN A FINE USED VINTAGE CONDITION CONSIDERING ITS USEDURING WORLD WAR TWO. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS.

HISTORY OF THE BRODIE HELMET:
The Brodie helmet is a steel combat helmet designed and patented in 1915 by Englishman John Leopold Brodie. Colloquially, it was called the shrapnel helmet, Tommy helmet, Tin Hat, and in the United States the doughboy helmet. Sometimes known as 'Panic Hat'. Brodie helmets are still being used today, most notably in Pakistan and up until just recently, by the Israeli civil defence forces.  

HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICAN MADE MKII HELMET:

Steel helmet production in the Union Of South Africa commenced in about April / May 1940.

The Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) a newly formed state company, succeeded in record time in producing the right quality of Bullet-proof steel (manganese steel) to British specifications which called for 12% manganese steel alloy. The first three-quarter million helmets were made from ISCOR material.

The Transvaal Steel Pressing Syndicate pressed the helmets and trimmed them. Thereafter the three distinctive holes were punched in the Back rim. The stainless steel, anti-magnetic channel rim was then fitted and spot welded on the left side of the wearer.

The helmets were sent for painting to Messrs. Herbert Evans & Co. (Pty) Ltd. Helmets were first painted in the standard UDF green, then a darker UDF green and later in a desert sand.

Jager Rand (Pty) Limited manufactured and Fitted the head linings and made delivery of the completed helmets to War Supplies.

Once the requirement of the Union Defence Forces had been met (unknown amount but probably in the region of 300 000), production continued and on 9 April 1945 the Transvaal Steel Pressing Syndicate pressed their one and half millionth helmet.

THE MANGANESE STEEL HAT IS NON MAGNETIC: While manganese steel guarantees wear and work hardening properties, it is non magnetic, making it ideal for frontline use.

PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED.