Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original U.S. WWI M1917 “Doughboy” helmet retaining its period textured olive drab finish and a hand-painted 91st Division “Wild West Division” insignia on the front. The shell is stamped ZC 24 beneath the rim, and the construction, including the solid rivets retaining the chinstrap bales, is consistent with U.S. manufacture. The original liner and chinstrap remain present, although both are now worn and somewhat delicate from age and service.

The shell retains a good amount of its original textured olive drab paint on both the exterior and interior. The ZC 24 marking is stamped beneath the rim. The ZC marking is associated with American-produced M1917 helmet shells, with ZC-marked examples identified with the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company.

The liner remains present but shows considerable wear from age and use. The felt crown pad is especially worn and deteriorated. The original leather chinstrap is also retained in fair condition, showing extensive cracking and crazing. Its buckle remains present and generally sound, with only minor oxidation. Because of the condition of the leather and liner components, the helmet should be handled carefully.

The most distinctive feature is the original hand-painted 91st Division insignia on the front of the shell. The design consists of the division’s characteristic green fir tree with the number “91” painted within it. The insignia retains much of its original paint, although dirt, surface wear, and age have made portions somewhat difficult to see.

The fir tree was officially adopted as the distinctive insignia of the 91st Division and symbolized the western states from which much of the division’s personnel had been drawn. Contemporary divisional history described the green fir tree as representative of the Far West and the division’s western character. The nickname “Wild West Division” was formally recognized by division orders in January 1919.

During the St. Mihiel Offensive of September 12–16, 1918, the 91st Division was held in First Army reserve rather than committed to the assault. Shortly afterward it was assigned to the U.S. V Corps and moved into position for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

On September 26, 1918, the 91st Division attacked as part of V Corps on the opening day of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, advancing on the left of the corps sector between Vauquois and Avocourt. The division remained engaged in the Meuse-Argonne fighting until mid-October.

The division was then transferred north to Belgium. Beginning at the end of October, it participated in the Ypres-Lys operation under French command, fighting through the closing days of the war. During these operations the division helped capture Audenarde and drove German forces east of the Scheldt River before the Armistice ended hostilities on November 11, 1918.

This example is particularly noteworthy for the combination of its U.S.-manufactured ZC 24 shell, surviving textured wartime paint, original liner and chinstrap, and hand-painted 91st Division fir-tree insignia. The helmet represents the equipment of one of the National Army divisions that entered combat during the final months of WWI, serving first in the Meuse-Argonne and then in Belgium during the Ypres-Lys campaign.