Original Item: Only One Available. When America was drawn into the European conflict it possessed no steel helmets of its own. They looked to other nations for ideas and selected the British helmet as the most suitable. Britain supplied about half a million helmets to the Americans before production of an American version was started in the U.S. This is a fantastic, genuine Great War hand painted 27th Infantry Division, 107th Infantry Regiment, British made helmet, complete with its original liner.

The heat stamp on the underside of the rim is HV 568. This is the typical marking where the designation of Manufacturer followed by designation of steel supplier followed by batch lot number of steel used. So HV.568 would be W. Hutton & Sons as Manufacturer, Vickers Ltd. as Steel Supplier and Steel Batch 568. The heat stamp and the split rivets on the chinstrap bales are a solid indication and a good reference point for identifying British made helmets for American use during the Great War.

The best features of the helmet is the 27th Infantry Division insignia on the front. Nicknamed the Empire Division for its connection to New York (the unit's motto is "Empire"), the 27th Infantry Division formed in 1912 as a result of a reorganization of the New York National Guard. The insignia is round with a black background and red symbols. The letters N, Y, and D—for New York Division—merge to form one graphic. The paint is retained quite well though it was painted black at some point.

The helmet is in lovely condition with a well worn liner, oilcloth, under netting and felt top pad. The leather chinstrap is present but unfortunately broken. The size stamp is no longer present. On the underside of the oilcloth the name HORSESHOER / JOHN F. SMITH can be found still clearly written. Smith served with the Mobile Veterinary Section No 105 was with the 27th Division, organized at Camp Wadsworth, S.C. Personnel consisted of 12 officers and 42 enlisted men.

The Veterinary Corps in France was represented by veterinary officers and enlisted men, veterinary hospitals, veterinary convalescent depots, and veterinary supply depots.

By April 1918, the 132 veterinary officers available in France were quite able to meet all needs, but the situation was quite different in so far as enlisted men were concerned. The first two veterinary hospitals, comprising some 300 men each, arrived in France on April 4, 1918, the delay in their arrival being due to the same cause that delayed other Medical Department organizations; that is to say, shortage of tonnage and the necessity for giving priority to combatant troops. Some remounted personnel were detailed to assist the veterinary service.

This is actually a fantastic British made example, used by a member of the Empire Division. Comes more than ready for display.

More on the M1917 "Doughboy" 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.