Well, I never knew that they used German helmets! Mind you, not sure how good they were as some looked dented to hell...
never knew that :o
Hi
From a collectors' site:-
Quote"After WW1, the steel helmet press captured from the Germans was taken to the Vickers Armstrong factory in th UK, where is was used to produce helmets for the Irish Forces"
Cheers
GrumpyOldMan
No kidding? Sure, you could bring the helmet press back, but why use it?
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 29 March 2015, 03:13:07 AM
No kidding? Sure, you could bring the helmet press back, but why use it?
V/R,
Jack
It's free?
Quote from: Steve J on 28 March 2015, 08:37:50 PM
Well, I never knew that they used German helmets! (...)
mmh... is this from a Laurel & Hardy movie ? :-\
at 0:38 we see this guy : ;D
(http://2d6.fr/photos/clowneries/Irish_GermanCasque_capture0334.png)
sorry, I couldn't resist... ;)
Makes me smile the way the squaddies in these days tilted their helmets to try and look cool. 8)
Even the Brits and the Yanks did it but don't recall any Axis troops doing that.
Also confused by the newsreel (watched it without commentary). Did the Irish Army have both German and British helmets?
I think the Irishman proves that the German helmet didn't lend itself to tilting. They Germans were quite natty with their soft caps though!
Oh leave him alone, he's trying his best and his mum is proud of him
Perhaps he's lost his right ear and the helmet just kind of slips over.
Actually, isn't that Frank Skinner?
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsBjm9uHX-blx-nL0v6C4ZA8tcEFp-wNU4-ev3vw_2xLjSIpL1)
Quote from: fsn on 29 March 2015, 10:16:52 AM
Perhaps he's lost his right ear and the helmet just kind of slips over.
Actually, isn't that Frank Skinner?
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsBjm9uHX-blx-nL0v6C4ZA8tcEFp-wNU4-ev3vw_2xLjSIpL1)
Does look rather like him doesn't it. :-\
Quote from: Fenton on 29 March 2015, 10:13:14 AM
Oh leave him alone, he's trying his best and his mum is proud of him
;D ;D ;D
That's interesting stuff! Exceedingly AVBCW :D And good evidence for having forces in coal scuttle helmets that aren't necessarily Nazi backed...
I have done a bit of exchange with the Irish Army. There was pressure in the 1920s to adopt a uniform and helmet that was 'not British' . The anti treaty IRA were still engaged in a war north of the border against the B Specials and British Army.
After the outbreak of WW2 (what the Irish Free State government called "the Emergency") the Vickers helmet was very quickly withdrawn and the British helmet issued.
If you are ever in Ireland, can I recommend the Army museum at the Curragh - well worth a visit. About an hour's drive from Dublin, and there is a regular bus service from Jury's as the military base is still operational.
I'd sort of assumed it was a deliberate "don't look like the British" thing, but having seen them in British style uniform from the "Emergency" period it's an interesting surprise!
Interesting that the German-style helmets were all the 1916 pattern, with the lugs for the drop-down visor.
How ironic, the officers in the armoured cars look EXACTLY like Auxilliaries!
To add to Sunray's recommendation of the Curragh (which I haven't been to), I recommend Collins Barracks:
http://www.museum.ie/en/info/things-to-see-and-do-national-museum-ireland-decorative-arts-history.aspx
I thought this was really well done: interesting exhibits, well curated, and a (to my British eyes) balanced and objective view of Irish history.
My favourite exhibit there was one of the two Swedish L-60 tanks they bought in the 1930s so they could practice being attacked by tanks.
Chris
Quote from: toxicpixie on 29 March 2015, 05:19:59 PM
I'd sort of assumed it was a deliberate "don't look like the British" thing, but having seen them in British style uniform from the "Emergency" period it's an interesting surprise!
Its an interesting but neglected period . I would recommend Robert Fisk's
In time of war(Gill & Macmillan 1985) for the best account.
There was little love lost between the Free State Army and the Ulster Special Constabulary. With a remarkably open border it would have been all to easy for the B Specials to shoot a few Free Staters in German helmets and claim they were Hilter's Storm troops.
Hence the urgent change to British (Brodie) helmets After the war they acquired the Mk 4 helmet and British olive green combat clothing which they retained as late as the 1980s. It contrasted well with the British DPM
There were actually German plans devised to invade N Ireland by use of airborne - but they were never approved and the units involved were deployed to .....Crete.