| Place | Europe: Belgium, Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Messines |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL29549 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Helmet |
| Physical description | Steel |
| Location | Main Bld: Hall of Valour: Main Hall: Belgium 1917 |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1916-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
British steel helmet with battle damage : Messines
Description
Badly damaged British steel helmet with a large irregular hole in the right front of the crown, and several other dents. No liner or chinstrap are present, although a small piece of leather remains attached to the inside of the central rivet. The right hand chinstrap retaining loop remains in place, but that on the left has snapped off.
History / Summary
A battlefield relic from the Messines area, Belgium, scene of a major battle in June 1917, in which the 3rd Australian Division participated. The helmet was picked up in the area by Mr Gilbert Murphy in 1929. He visited the area in memory of his friend, 2801 Private Charles Volney Forbes of 35 Battalion, who was killed in Belgium in 1917.