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 

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 : 


sorry, I couldn't resist... 

Makes me smile the way the squaddies in these days tilted their helmets to try and look cool. 
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?

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?

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

That's interesting stuff! Exceedingly AVBCW 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the outbreak of WW2  (what the Irish Free State government called "the Emergency")  the Vickers helmet was very quickly withdrawn and the British helmet issued.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!