Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military show! This is an excellent example of a U.S. M1917 "Doughboy" helmet, which features original period textured OD Green paint and a painted Unit Insignia on the front. Even better, it is named to McClure on both sides of the top securing strap, with D. McClure on the chin strap, for Pvt. David R. McClure, from New York State. They were a member of the 5th Trench Mortar Battery, 5th Field Artillery Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division during WWI. We have printed out research on McClure, including his enlistment information, and his name on passenger lists for his outbound and return voyages during his service. Lots of further research potential here!

The shell of the helmet is maker marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads ZC 200, a correct U.S. style contract marking. The solid rivets and heat lot number indicate that this helmet shell was produced in the United States. The front of the helmet has the "Red Diamond" unit insignia of the 5th Infantry Division, which is well retained.

The paint is in very good condition both inside and outside the helmet. The liner is present, and is in very good condition, with great looking oil cloth and netting. The underside of the oil cloth sweatband is marked with an Ordnance Department Inspection Stamp and a faded maker mark. The chin strap is fully intact, and actually in very good condition, exhibiting an un-oiled original russet brown color. Chinstrap is marked 7 ⅛ near the crown. One of the best we've seen on a WWI doughboy helmet!

A fantastic example of a unit-painted WWI M-1917 Helmet in stellar condition, with soldier identification leaves much to be explored for the researcher and historian of WWI. A perfect example to add as a representative example for the novice collector, and an excellent addition for even the most seasoned collector. Those who appreciate having the additional human element added to an artifact will appreciate the research potential of this identified piece.

The U.S. Fifth Infantry Division in WWI:

The 5th Division was activated on 11 December 1917, just over eight months after the American entry into World War I, at Camp Logan, near Houston, Texas and began training for deployment to the Western Front. The entire division had arrived in France by 1 May 1918 and components of the units were deployed into the front line. The 5th Division was the eighth of forty-two American divisions to arrive on the Western Front.

The 5th Division trained with French Army units from 1 to 14 June 1918. The first soldiers of the unit to be killed in action died on 14 June of that year. Among the division's first casualties was Captain Mark W. Clark, then commanding the 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, who would later become a four-star general. On 12 September, the unit was part of a major attack that reduced the salient at St. Mihiel. The division later fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest battle fought by the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) (and the largest in the history of the U.S. Army) in World War I. The war ended soon after, on November 11, 1918. The division served in the Army of Occupation, being based in Belgium and Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg until it departed Europe. The division returned to the United States through the New York Port of Embarkation at Hoboken, New Jersey, on 21 July 1919

Organization / Order of Battle:

• Headquarters, 5th Division
• 9th Infantry Brigade

• 60th Infantry Regiment
• 61st Infantry Regiment
• 14th Machine Gun Battalion

• 10th Infantry Brigade

• 6th Infantry Regiment
• 11th Infantry Regiment
• 15th Machine Gun Battalion

• 5th Field Artillery Brigade

• 19th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)
• 20th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm)
• 21st Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm)
• 5th Trench Mortar Battery

• 13th Machine Gun Battalion
• 7th Engineer Regiment
• 9th Field Signal Battalion
• Headquarters Troop, 5th Division

• 5th Train Headquarters and Military Police

• 5th Ammunition Train
• 5th Supply Train
• 5th Engineer Train
• 5th Sanitary Train
• 17th, 25th, 29th, and 30rd Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals

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.