WW2 SOUTH AFRICAN BRODIE HELMET
HISTORY
During World War 2, many South Africans saw military service in the South African Army and participated with other British Empire Forces in battles in North Africa against Rommel and his Afrika Korps and in Europe The South African 6th Armoured Division fought in numerous actions in Italy in 1944–1945. Many South African pilots joined the RAF and also fought in Europe. With the declaration of war in September 1939, the South African Army numbered only 5,353 regulars, with an additional 14,631 men of the Active Citizen Force (ACF) which gave peace time training to volunteers and in time of war would form the main body of the army. Pre-war plans did not anticipate that the army would fight outside southern Africa and it was trained and equipped only for bush warfare. This is a relatively small number of troops, About 334,000 men volunteered for full-time service in the South African Army during WW2 (including some 211,000 white, 77,000 black and 46,000 coloured and Indian servicemen). They were recognised as good fighters.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This helmet is dated 1945 and would have been used in the Italian theatre of war due to its tropical paint finish. The helmet has its standard 3 holes in the rear skirt which was designed to hold a skirt to protect the sun but no evidence or images are available to prove they were ever issued. The helmet has seen field use as the liner is showing signs of heavy use.
WW2 South African helmets are nowhere near as common as the British and Australian issued helmets due to the number ofn troops South Africa supplied and this helmet would make a great addition for the WW2 collector.