WWI USMC Painted Helmets with EGAs

[Alec]

Dennis, as you well know Marines marched in victory parades for years after WWI. Could have easily upgraded an EGA sometime along the way. Never judge a helmet or cap just on the EGA alone.

[Quantico]

Here's my 2/6 helmet. A nice early UK Brodie marked "MS", which were made 1916-1917. The leather is still pliable, and has a smooth chocolate-brown shell with a carefully painted Bn emblem. S/F Mark

[usmcaviator]

Definately a keeper. I love the brown 2/6 helmets. There is a reason why just 2/6 did this, but it will probably remain a mystery unless someone happens across the reason by chance in an veterans old letter or correspondence. By painting them brown, they made for a more striking and desirable helmet in my opinion.

S/F,

Mike

[Brig]

normally I glance at the painted helmets and don't read much since I know nothing about them...but I have an interest in 2/6 items as I'm headed there next month. Very nice helmet. I know there're a couple of history buffs up there, maybe I'll bring this color question up and see if anyone can scrounge up any info

[ww1collector]

Wow-I just learned something. I have had a brown Marine WW1 helmet for a long time. It has EGA only, no painted patch. So, it's 2/6? Dave

[usmcaviator]

Wow-I just learned something. I have had a brown Marine WW1 helmet for a long time. It has EGA only, no painted patch. So, it's 2/6? Dave

No. There was a specific artist, me thinks, that painted the brown 2/6 helmets. Or maybe it was just one battalion that did it (pure speculation). They are a specific red/brown color with the painted yellow 2/6 diamond and indian head. All WW1 helmets are "brown", and I have seen varying shades from tan to olive. The 2/6 brown is unmistakeable when you see it, and I have only seen the color done with artwork.

 

Mike

[Brig]

notice the shade of yellow in comparrison to the brown...I think you might be right about a specific artist taking great pride in his art, not wanting a flashy contrast but a pleasant transition

[ww1collector]

No. There was a specific artist, me thinks, that painted the brown 2/6 helmets. Or maybe it was just one battalion that did it (pure speculation). They are a specific red/brown color with the painted yellow 2/6 diamond and indian head. All WW1 helmets are "brown", and I have seen varying shades from tan to olive. The 2/6 brown is unmistakeable when you see it, and I have only seen the color done with artwork.

 

Mike

 

Mike-I've handled hundreds of WW1 helmets. My Marine helmet is BROWN. It was first sanded smooth and then painted. I will post a pic later. Dave

[normaninvasion]

Definately a keeper. I love the brown 2/6 helmets. There is a reason why just 2/6 did this, but it will probably remain a mystery unless someone happens across the reason by chance in an veterans old letter or correspondence. By painting them brown, they made for a more striking and desirable helmet in my opinion.

S/F,

Mike

 

This is good info Mike. Here is my brown 2/6, id'd to a Lt. Boyd, no further research, jeff

 

 

[ww1collector]

Here are pics of my "brown" Marine WW1 helmet. It is American, not British made. Note the comparison to the standard green one to the right. Dave

 

 

 

[usmcaviator]

 

 

Here are pics of my "brown" Marine WW1 helmet. It is American, not British made. Note the comparison to the standard green one to the right. Dave

WW1collector,
This is the one in my collection, named to a Cpl in the 6th Regiment. Yours has a very glossy brown appearance and then it appears like someone tried to take it off or age it by doing so. The underlying does not look good to me either.

WW1 helmets with EGAs are hard to validate with no name, provenance, outward age, or "the look". The EGA is good, thats all I can tell from your photos. I dont think yours fits in the realm of the ones listed by Quantico, Normaninvasion, and myself.

S/F,
Mike
(BROKEN LINK REMOVED)

[C. Roelens]

That's a beautiful helmet Mark. :thumbsup: I also have one just like it (thanks again Brian). I have many others, but the 2/6 helmet seems to be the first I see when I walk into the room.

 

Semper Fi,

 

Chuck

[Quantico]

That's a beautiful helmet Mark. :thumbsup: I also have one just like it (thanks again Brian). I have many others, but the 2/6 helmet seems to be the first I see when I walk into the room.

 

Semper Fi,

 

Chuck

 

Thanks Chuck- I'm pretty happy with it. I got a 5th Mar HQ Co one from you about a year and a half ago on E-Bay. Is that one in your photo a 3/6 or 6th Mar HQ Co? Looks nice. I have not seen many 3/6 out there compared to th eother Bn's/Co's. S/F Mark

[C. Roelens]

Thanks Chuck- I'm pretty happy with it. I got a 5th Mar HQ Co one from you about a year and a half ago on E-Bay. Is that one in your photo a 3/6 or 6th Mar HQ Co? Looks nice. I have not seen many 3/6 out there compared to th eother Bn's/Co's. S/F Mark

 

It's a 3/6 helmet Mark... Thank You. It took some ground pounding to find it. I'm still on the hunt for a 3/5 helmet equally as nice. S/F, Chuck

[Quantico]

This is good info Mike. Here is my brown 2/6, id'd to a Lt. Boyd, no further research, jeff

 

Hello Jeff- I found a Boyd, George F. in 78th (E) Co, 2/6. No rank listed. I found it in the command chronology for 78th Co, written in Germany during the occupation in 1919. It was printed by the Brass Hat in Pike, NH. Hope this helps. S/F Mark

[normaninvasion]

Mark, Thank you very much!!! That is something to go on. One of The Brass Hat histories I don't have! Maybe the brown paint was unique to the 78th? Hope some other Marine collectors will weigh in about this. Will have to do further research on George Boyd, glad to know this, jeff

[man860]

Here's mine. I too have wondered about the brown. Why go to the trouble of repainting an entire lid, wait for it to dry, then start the artwork. Was it for moral--to have the spiffiest, newest looking helmets, all EGA and patched up. I'd imagine it would have been quite a sight to see those boys on parade.

[jeremiahcable]

brought 1900 on eBay last week...

 

 

Nice piece of Marine art, for sure.

[jeremiahcable]

Hello all- I have a few 4th Brigade helmets- two have initials carved or written on them. I have a 5th Marine Regimental Headquarters Company helmet with what appears to be "HMH" or "HWH" written on the strap. I also have a 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines helmet with "HVL" carved into the top. Does anyone have access/interest to period rosters? I have photographed them, but their size exceeds the 150K limit- I will try to figure out how to reduce them for posting. Thanks in advance for any support. S/F Mark

 

 

That's a toughie. Marines often got transferred to different companies within their regiments, or occasionally the brigade itself. The printed 4th Brigade roster only lists those multiple companies on occasion. So a Marine with the correct initials that might have owned either of your helmets might be listed in a line company instead of the headquarters company.

 

Add the fact that H and R can look similar in old faded ink and M, H, and W all look similar as well. See where this is heading?

 

Best bet would be to track down a printed roster and spend the time doing a line by line check of the Marines that have last names starting with H and L, then taking into account faded ink letters. Once you build up a list a membership to Ancestry.com will narrow it down even more.

 

In the printed roster there are 33 pages of H and 20 pages of L, about 50 to 55 Marines per page.

 

Fun, no?

 

Those are, by the way, gorgeous helmets.

[Brig]

another off eBay

 

 

[Brig]

another eBay piece...probably treated with a varnish for preservation

[teufelhunde.ret]

Stunning 2nd Battalion 6th Marines helmet that sold on ebay earlier this month for - $1800!

[Brig]

Stunning 2nd Battalion 6th Marines helmet

Oorah...

 

no, I wasn't the buyer, but Oorah 2/6

[teufelhunde.ret]

Another beauty sold this past week on ebay... $1600

 

 

 

[Belleauwood]

Most if not all of you saw this on E-Bay - It was in the mix with some great legitimate other WW1 Marine painted helmets the same week on E-bay, that was led by one of the forum's own. This one really got my interest and for the life of me, could not figure out why this closed with one bid (mine). I had prepared to go much higher in the chance that it was as correct and as legit that I thought it was.

 

It is indeed real - It's really nice to remove the EGA and see the original, unmolested paint that lived under the globe of the EGA. NICE! - The art work is first class. After the dust is cleaned away, it should be a stunner if you like these sorts of helmets. Marine helmets with additional artwork are seldom encountered that are legitimate. Happy to have this one.

 

DJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is ID'ed with a name and number on the leather liner attachment. I have yet to hold my mouth right, close one eye, hold by breath, etc. to get it read however.

 

DJ