BRITISH WWI 1ST PATTERN CRUISE VISOR BRODIE HELMET

A standard 2nd pattern Brodie helmet with rimmed edge, fitted with the chainmail system designed by Royal Army Medical Corps Eye Surgeon Captain Richard C. Cruise. As WWI progressed, more body and helmet armour was introduced by all different countries with a huge amount of experimentation. After the introduction of the Brodie helmets to British Forces, it was evident that many eye injuries were being caused by shrapnel and splinters, and a chainmail eye protective system was introduced. The basic First War helmet has much of its original paint finish remaining. The interior liner is complete, which is ink-stamped to the interior of the oilskin Brodie pattern in red, and mostly complete is its stringed fretwork upper inner felt and the original strap. The helmet was fitted with the Mark 1 chainmail system, it has its specific clip on the chinstrap. The right-hand exterior hook that is fitted to the helmet to hook in place the chainmail supporting chain over the helmet when not in combat use, instead of pointing to the front over the years been turned in the reverse order. The left-hand hook, as the helmet is viewed, is in its correct position. The chain attached to the chainmail that hooks to the right-hand hook is full length and attaches correctly, but some links from the left-hand chain link that fits to the chainmail and then to the left-hand hook are two or three links short. There is another small 7-link support chain that runs between the right-hand strap buckle and the bar that holds the chainmail to the helmet. The inner helmet shell stamped ‘HS 106’. 

Ref; 96571