Original Item: One Only. This helmet is fascinating piece of military history. Privately purchased officer’s helmets such as these were known as “Bombay Bowlers.” They were mostly made in India, however the manufacturing was done by Chinese immigrants displaced by the war. As part of the construction materials, they would use local newspaper to form part of the helmet’s liner. In this case, it was a Chinese language newspaper that was used, and by a stroke of fortune, the piece used has a picture of a German SS Officer on the left side. Also shown is much printing in Chinese, as well as some in English.
This helmet comes complete with canvas chinstrap and dates from perhaps 1942. Most likely it was owned by a British Officer serving in India and South East Asia.