MKII helmets of the second world war

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MKII helmets of the second world war

A page that present the book and updates on the MKII helmets information :)

26/06/2025

Control Mark on shell, HBH helmet.

24/05/2025

The page is up and running again, sorry for the inconvenience, but we had access restriction problems. :)

13/02/2025

"Every legend starts with a dusty helmet."
"Dreaming big... sinking in helmets!".. But...
"Where did all the money go?"

Playing with ChatGPT :)

21/01/2025

Ciao, these are photos of this South African MKII. I picked it up because it seemed to have the good flash, and holding it in my hand I have no particular doubts about that. Unfortunately, photos taken with a smartphone make all the colours brighter and not quite like the original.
The flash is South African Royal Artillery, usually used for pith helmets, flash in use from 1915 to the 1950s.
This is the first time I have seen an MKII with what I believe to be an original flash. Usually you see the classic helmets with non-original 6th division friezes. I have been unable to find any period photos or other examples. I contacted some South African experts and it is all okay with them, adding that there are MKIIs with these types of flash.
Overall it is a little worn, it has been stored in a damp environment. It has what remains of the classic early UDF 1940 green colouring. It has different chinstrap hooks, they are the two variations of the South African hooks, with and without bevels. The chinstrap is South African made as is the liner attachment pair. The liner is the classic 1940 South African, in keeping with the rest, lacking the oval pad and lugs.
I really wouldn't know what to say. Do you have any period photos?

17/01/2025

Black Worcester Pear?? I think yes! :D
A super nece RA helmet with Black Pear.
Thanks to Vincent B. for picture of helmet and documentation about another helmet, in this case with RAMC flash and Black Pear decal.

It's correct for you?
Thanks

03/01/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦-𝐒𝐢𝐦, 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐖𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟕𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬

Maj. Anthony Charles Bovill Malcolm-Sim (1884–1946) was a British mining engineer with a distinguished career in both the mining industry and military service.

Military Service:
World War I: In September 1915, he enlisted for military service, serving in the 184th and 176th Tunneling Companies of the Royal Engineers. In 1918, he became Assistant Controller of Mines for the First Army.

World War II: During World War II, he rejoined the army, commanding the 171st Tunneling Company of the Royal Engineers. After retiring due to age in 1943, he joined the Directorate of Opencast Coal Production, spending two years prospecting for coal in Britain.

Anthony Charles Bovill Malcolm-Sim played a significant role in the 171st Tunnelling Company of the British Royal Engineers during World War II. After re-enlisting at the start of the war, he was appointed commander of this specialized unit.

The 171st Tunnelling Company was one of the Royal Engineer units created for underground warfare operations. During World War I, these companies were involved in activities such as laying mines beneath enemy lines, constructing underground shelters for troops, and building tunnels for safe passage.

During World War II, the expertise of these units was once again in high demand. Under Malcolm-Sim’s command, the 171st Company carried out extensive underground construction projects, including bomb-proof shelters in various locations, particularly in Malta. Between 1943 and 1945, the company completed over 50 underground structures in Malta and contributed to improvements in civilian water supply systems.

Mining Career:
Beginnings: In 1903, he started his career with Rand Mines Ltd. in the Transvaal, South Africa, working in various departments of the Jumpers Deep Ltd. mine.

International Experience: After three years, he worked in the geological department in Madagascar and served as the company’s agent in the alluvial diamond fields of the Bloemhof district.

Later Roles: From June 1909 to January 1913, he served as assistant assayer and chemist at the City and Suburban Gold Mining and Estate Co. Ltd. He later worked as a consulting metallurgist, assayer, and chemist for several mines, including Pilgrims Creek Gold Mining Co. Ltd. and Southern Van Ryn Reef Gold Mining Co. Ltd.

West Africa: In 1923, he was appointed Assistant General Manager of the West African Diamond Syndicate Ltd. in the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana), a position he held until 1929.

Later Years: In 1935, he joined the Prah Syndicate Ltd. in the Gold Coast.

Personal Life:
Divorce: In 1925, his wife, Pauline Mary Malcolm-Sim (née Farrell), filed for divorce.

Death: Maj. Malcolm-Sim passed away in hospital on October 30, 1946, at the age of 62.

24/12/2024

Royal Artillery MKII helmet with RA flash and in front a Sussex Martlet.

There were several batteries in Sussex. Most of them were framed in the 57th Field Regiment and the 113th Field Regiment. The helmet seems to be of a colour that could be associated with the Italian campaign, and the two Field Regiments could be a match.
Apart from the somewhat complex identification, the helmet is beautiful!!!

Thanks to Vincent Billiet for sharing this with us!

Buona Natale a tutti!

17/12/2024

Today I found this unexpected shell, collected by the father of a friend of mine who lives in Ravenna :). The shell was found in the Ferarra area.

It has a classic Italian country crumpled finish. Has small MKIII screw marks, the liner was an MKII model as can be seen from the marks left in the shell. It still has the MKIII chinstrap rings. The shell is a BMB 1943. A classic 1943 configuration.

It has the RASC sticker on one side and what looks like the Italian flag (green, white, red) on the other. What is the Italian flag doing there? I don't know!

Inside is the name AL. Elizabeth, just below, and Swancott. When I first saw the photos before it arrived I thought it belonged to a woman, but when I held it in my hand I thought the soldier was AL Swancott and perhaps Elizabeth referred to his fiancée. Searching for AL Swancoot I then found in the died in Italy Albert Swancott, serial no. T/10667354, RASC, killed in Italy.

Albert Swancott, registration number T/10667354, was born in Rotherham in the autumn of 1920. His parents lived at 4 Park Nook, Thrybergh, Rotherham. In 1941 he joined the British Army as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. After two years' service in North Africa, he was transferred to Italy in 1944. He died of his wounds on 9 October 1944 and is buried in the Cesena War Cemetery in Italy. Before enlisting, Albert worked for Robert Jenkins Ltd in Masbrough. Albert is commemorated on a 'Roll of Honour' dedicated to the employees of Robert Jenkins Ltd of Masbrough, Rotherham, who died during the Second World War. Following the demolition of the original company building, the plaque was moved to St Paul's Church in Masbrough to preserve its memory [ROTHERHAM WAR MEMORIALS].

25/11/2024

Ciao,
It's ready, Technical Notes and Military Uses, Revised and Expanded Second Edition :) Italian or English version

Price for Italy, 47.00€+4,70€ for shipping, total 51,70€... 50,00€
Price for Europe, 47.00€+18.60€ for shipping, total 65.60€... 65,00€
Rest of the world, 47,00€+29,45€ for shipping, total 76,45€... 76,00€

Paypal [email protected]

For other payment methods send me a message.

Thanks!

04/11/2024

They are coming!

The proofs for the second edition are in. A few tweaks and off we go! More than 200 pages, hundreds of pictures and a lot of insights compared to the first edition! I hope to have it printed by the beginning of December :) :)

04/07/2024

Royal Norfolk Regiment

19/06/2024

1963 – Greek Cypriot fighters in Limassol

https://archive.cyprus-mail.com/2016/12/29/chronology-events-1955-december-2016/

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