Original U.S. WWI M1917 37th Infantry Division Medic Doughboy Helmet - Buckeye Division
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a U.S. M1917 "Doughboy" helmet, with an original liner, and original OD Green paint on the outside of the shell. The helmet also has an original hand-painted emblem of the 37th Infantry Division - Buckeye Division. It is the standard red circle surrounded by large white circle, with the green of the helmet on the outside. It also has the remnants of white medical tape crosses added on all four sides, indicating it was used by a field medic. Only bits of the tape and adhesive remain, but the design is clear. The helmet paint job has seen wear, and a good amount of the sand has worn off over the years. It looks to have seen quite a bit of service during and possibly after WWII.
The shell of this helmet is maker marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads MLS 51, indicating that the shell is one of the 400,000 British manufactured helmets supplied to the U.S. at their entrance into the war. The split pin rivets attaching the chin-strap bales further confirm this. The maker stamping indicates that the shell was made by J & J Maxfield & Sons Ltd Sheffield. They produced shells from 1916 to 1918, and used both the "M" and "MLS" markings.
The liner is present, though it has suffered due to age. The felt top pad is somewhat worn due to age and use, and the oil cloth is very nice, but the underlying netting is a bit deteriorated. The chin strap is missing on one side, but the leather securing straps for the liner are still present.
A great example of an authentic WWI "Doughboy" Medic helmet from the 34th Infantry Division, with original, ready to display!
History of the 34th Infantry Division:
The 37th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was a National Guard division from Ohio, nicknamed the "Buckeye Division". Today, its lineage is continued through the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, with battalions from Ohio, Michigan, and South Carolina.
It was initially activated as the 16th Division, a National Guard formation from Ohio and West Virginia in 1913. It was federally activated in August 1917 as a National Guard Division from Ohio. It was sent overseas in June 1918 and fought at the Meuse-Argonne and at Ypres-Lys offensives.
History of the M1917 Helmet
The M1917 was the US Army's first modern combat helmet, used from 1917 and during the 1920s, before being replaced by the M1917A1. The M1917A1 helmet was an updated version of the M1917 and initially used refurbished WW1 shells.
The M1917 is a near identical version of the British Mk.I steel helmet, and it is important to note that when the US joined the Great War in 1917 they were initially issued with a supply of around 400,000 British made Mk.Is, before production began state side. The M1917 differed slightly in its lining detail, and exhibited US manufacture markings.
M1917 helmet liners typically show a paper label at the crown and the dome rivet head. The liner is set up as on the British versions, with an oilcloth band and net configuration, attached to a leather strap, riveted to the shell. The chinstrap is leather with steel buckle.
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