BACKGROUND: The MKIII helmet was designed due to the lack of protection from horizontal projectiles offered by the MKII helmet. Experimentation was done with reshaping the MKII to offer better protection for the temple and back neck areas and while the shape was deemed good the steel was weakened. The new pattern that resulted could be shaped out of the same size plate of manganese steel used in the MKII. Production began in 1943 using the existing MKII liner and was issued on a replacement basis, the exception being the 21st Army Group who were completely equipped for the Normandy invasion.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Constructed entirely of non-magnetic manganese steel, this pot shaped helmet, with an uneven all-round visor, retains about 95% of its rough textured olive-drab paint to both the exterior and interior. To the front of the helmet are stenciled the letters "MP" for Military Police. A single red band is painted around the circumference of the shell. A separate stainless steel rim, that is folded around the edge of the visor and spot welded at the back, exhibits expected edge wear and has been period touched up with green paint as was the norm. The helmet slopes up sharply from the front visor going over the pot shaped body and slopes down the back at a more gradual angle to a larger flare at the rear. The visor slopes down at the sides to allow better protection for the temple and ear areas. The MK II pattern liner, introduced in late 1939, includes a head harness of five tongues cut from a single piece of black patent leather, folded and stitched to each of their tapered ends to form tunnel loops for the adjusting drawstring to pass through. The head harness is stitched to the exterior of a horizontal black fibre headband, which has a khaki-colored cloth covered rubber strip sewn to its interior, forming a padding between it and the inwardly-folded tongues of the head harness. The exterior of the headband has eight molded rubber buffers fixed between it and the interior surface of the helmet. Two black fibre crown strips are riveted to the horizontal headband and rise vertically, crossing one another to the interior apex of the helmet. A molded, cruciform shaped, rubber pad is fixed, along with the rest of the liner assembly, to the helmet through its central depression with the correct Mk. III slotted lining securing bolt and Simmonds Elastic Shop Nut. The liner band strapping is marked with "CCL", "11", the date "194?". The chinstrap is a MKIII adjustable cloth strap that was introduced due to the shortage of metal springs used on previous straps. Scarce MP helmet.

New info added Sept 30th 2008

It is actually a very early wartime MkIV helmet. It has the same liner screw and nut as the MkIII instead of the LTD fastener of the later post war MkIV helmets. Thanks 
Frank

GRADE ****                             PRICE $440.00