Share your favorites on Show & Tell

French Model 1915 Helmet for Colonial Troop

In Military and Wartime > World War One > Show & Tell and Military and Wartime > Military Helmets > Show & Tell.
Military and Wartime5053 of 7283Relic French Napoleonic cavalry officer’s swordAntique 40's-50's Russian Corsar alarm clock.
9
Love it
1
Like it

blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
battlegearbattlegear loves this.
crabbykinscrabbykins loves this.
ttomtuckerttomtucker loves this.
inkyinky loves this.
miKKoChristmas11miKKoChristmas11 loves this.
scottvezscottvez likes this.
mrmajestic1mrmajestic1 loves this.
See 8 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 11 years ago

    Chrisnp
    (310 items)

    The WWI era “Casque Adrian” (named for the designer, August-Louis Adrian) became the standard helmet for the French Army in 1915, and was soon adopted by the Belgians, Italians, Russians, Romanians, and others.

    This particular helmet bears the insignia of French colonial troops from North Africa – Zouaves, Tirailleurs, and I think some others. During WWI, large numbers of colonial troops were brought to France to fight, so this helmet could have seen the trenches of France as easily as the sands of Algeria. Unlike other French troops, these helmets were painted brown instead of the standard horizon blue. Additionally, being lower on the supply chain, many of these troops were still wearing the Model 1915 helmet into WWII.

    My amateur CSI skills tell me that the original owner wasn’t wearing the helmet when the bullet came crashing through it. My main evidence is that there aren’t any blood stains inside the helmet, and the thin leather liner hasn’t deteriorated as would be expected if left in contact with blood and gore. Further, the bullet’s upward flight from the lower rear is a bit strange, although obviously quite possible. I thought perhaps some GI used it for target practice, just to make the helmet more interesting, so I checked the bullet hole diameter with my micrometer. The bullet hole is .315” diameter– a bit smaller than the German 8mm (.323”) bullet, but larger than the American .30 Caliber (.308”) or British .303 (.312”) bullets. Perhaps it really was a German round, and the metal contracted a bit after the round went through. In any case, the bullet’s flight would have been destabilized as it passed through the helmet on level with the leather head band and “keyholed” the helmet, coming out of the crown semi-sideways.

    logo
    World War One
    See all
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custom stamping
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custo...
    $20
    WWI Kerr N0-Buckl Sling for M1903 Springfield
    WWI Kerr N0-Buckl Sling for M1903 S...
    $25
    Trench Art WW1 German Memorabilia Battle Relics Authentic Collection
    Trench Art WW1 German Memorabilia B...
    $38
    WW1 WW2 GERMAN M1916 CAMO HELMET SIZE 64 War Military
    WW1 WW2 GERMAN M1916 CAMO HELMET SI...
    $690
    logo
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custom stamping
    World War 1 WW1 dog tags with custo...
    $20
    See all

    Comments

    1. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 11 years ago
      So size does matter? I've shot thousands of rounds "at", but had a few encounters where I was the target. Did you know that a 9m/m is the size of a bolling ball when it is pointed at you?! LOL (hopefully).
    2. scottvez scottvez, 11 years ago
      I bet that there were some great "war stories" told about the bullet hole over the years!

      scott
    3. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 11 years ago
      I'm making-up a few you can add to the history as we speak.
    4. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 11 years ago
      Reference post #1:
      The one time in the military that someone actually shot at me, I think I was too busy trying not to get hit to give any consideration to the measurement of the round ;)

      When I was a young and foolish kid, I was trespassing on some industrial property when an over-reacting security guard pulled out his revolver and shouted “Freeze!” – I did, and looking down the cylinders of the business end of what probably was a .38, those rounds (semi-wadcutters!) looked like Dirty Harry’s .44 Magnum!
    5. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 11 years ago
      Thanks for the loves and like ttomtucker, inky, miKKoChristmas11, scottvez and mrmajestic1.
    6. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 11 years ago
      Thanks for the love, crabbykins
    7. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      I had an interesting experience recently. I found my photo about 3/4 of the way down on this website:

      https://alexanderandsonsrestorations.com/americans-french-helmets-enigma-american-adrian/

      The first time someone used one of my photos, they asked first. I felt a bit flattered and said sure. This time it's more like having an apple tree near your fence. Someone asks if he can reach over and grab an apple, you say "go ahead, help yourself." When you glance out the window to see a stranger help himself to an apple, you feel a little ripped off.

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.