Leaderboard

Heres's a nice M40 we just sold on Saturday retaining approx 90% original paint. Decal has approx 85% remaining. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. Interior of the helmet has a M31 tan leather liner with all eight fingers and original tie string intact. Interior of helmet crown has faint manufacturer stamp. The reverse interior neck guard apron has stamped serial number "5178" and the interior left side apron has stamped manufacturer’s size code,"ET66" indicating manufacture by Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harzsize 66. Chin strap complete and is stamped 'Rahm & Kampmann 1936'

Jackie the mascot of 3rd SAI and his keeper Pte Albert Marr were both injured by the explosion of the same shell in April 1918. Jackie was badly wounded his left leg hanging by shreds of muscle and another jagged wound to his right arm. He was given chloroform and had the lower part of his leg removed and dressed and his arm was also dressed, he was taken by a passing ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station and after a couple of was sent to the base hospital on the French coast. It was the end of active service for both Jackie and Pte Albert Marr with the end of the war drawing to a close. From early September to 14th February they were both lent to the Red Cross for the purpose of collecting money for sick and wounded soldiers between them they raised over £1000. Jackie was officially discharged on the 26th April on his arm Jackie wore one gold wound stripe and the three blue service chevrons, indicating three years frontline service. At Maitland Dispersal Camp Cape Town he received the usual discharge papers, a military pension, plus a Civil Employment Form for Discharged soldiers which had been filled in, signed and witnessed like any other such document. At a parade to welcome back officially the 1st SAI Brigade and a Peace Parade on Church Square Pretoria on 31 July 1920 he received the Pretoria Citizens Service Medal. Jackie was able to live out his days in peaceful retirement until his death on 22 May 1921, he was buried in a unmarked grave on Cheshire Fann, Villieria Albert Marr died in Pretoria, aged 84, in August 1973. Story and photo from the book Pyramids and Poppies ( The 1st SA Infantry Brigade in Libya, France and Flanders ) 1915 - 1919 by Peter K. A. Digby an excellent book,

Here are a few pages from the book Christmas Truce by Malcolm Brown & Shirley Seaton I found recently.

another way around is to use desiccant - just don't put too much of it it near items that you don't want to dry out too much like leather. Desiccant comes in its own pouch, box, etc and prevents moisture. This ensures a dry item without placing something on the item itself. It is popular to keep in gun safes. You've probably seen similar when buying new shoes in a small sachet with silica balls falls out of the shoe box, this keeps the moisure from destroying the shoes when in a cargo container shipped from China.

Thanks greg i keep them in a glass display cabinet i also have a ss single decal m35 by the same maker ive tried to preserve this one in the past by using weldtite tf2 lubricant spray with teflon i use it on the car dashboard as well seems to work for a time.

Thanks Kenny is there any way of stopping the rust getting worse than it is.

DAVID! IT'S A PRETTY HELMET!

Nice helmet David! Those were the days!!! Wish I had made more of them at the time.

These are a rare thing to get in origional condition,i got this from a guy who got it 30 odd years ago when he was a young lad, he got it from a village hall auction in norfolk for £10 with a bayonet,its complete with chinstrap ,liner,drawstring,and domestamp, it was a d/d but the tri has been painted over, rgds Dave