Original U.S. WWI M1917 Panel Camouflage Doughboy Helmet Named Grouping with Photo and Documentation
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Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic genuine Great War hand painted camouflage helmet offering, which comes with a fantastic story and provenance! This was purchased directly from the family of WWI veteran Frederick A. Glenn, who was a member of Company F, 309th Engineers, 84th Infantry division. A part of the A.E.F. during WWI, he was an avid boxer, and after his service, stayed quite fit.
Included with the helmet is a postcard picture of Glenn from his time in France, a card detailing the basics of his life, and several printouts from internet research. Also included is an aged copy of what we believe is Our Experiences In The Army 1917-1919 Co. F, 309th U.S. Engineers, published in 1932. This book specifically mentions Glenn's boxing on page 76, which we have scanned to show in the pictures for this lovely set.
The book chronicles the experiences of Company F, 309th Engineer Battalion, part of the 84th Infantry Division. This unit, made up primarily of men from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, trained at Camp (Zachary) Taylor in Louisville, Ky. Contains many well-done cartoons by Wolford Eberly and Roy Wills. Book includes photographs of all members and a list of their names and home addresses.
The helmet part of this grouping features textured original period colored panel camouflage paint in a multitude of pastel colors, including yellow, blue, and tan, with black borders between the panels. This type of design was very popular during WWI. The paint is a bit worn, and definitely shows some use, but it has a great look and the colors are still easily discernible, with a lovely patina.
The interior of the helmet has all the original olive drab paint, with a bit of corrosion around the rim. The liner is in very good shape, with intact oilcloth and netting, as well as an intact felt top pad and remnants of the original label. The chinstrap is however completely missing, except for part of the buckle, which is attached to the drawstring of the liner netting. The underside of the rim is stamped ZC 186, indicating that the shell is a U.S. manufactured shell, and not British. The solid rivet attaching the chin-strap bale further confirm this.
A wonderful WWI Veteran grouping, complete with their original helmet with genuine camouflage paint! Ready to research and display!
The 84th Division in World War I, personnel were first enlisted from the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky and were formed into an infantry division in 1917, whereupon they chose the formation's distinctive patch and nickname. Organized at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, in Sept., 1917. The division was composed of National Army drafts from Indiana and Kentucky, and remained in training at Camp Taylor until Aug., 1918. It was deployed to France in October 1918 to serve as a training formation for replacements which would be sent to the Western Front. At the war's end, the formation was recalled home and, without having seen combat actions, inactivated in January 1919.
More on 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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