A Very Good MK IV D-Day Pattern Camouflage Helmet, With Original WWII Camo Netting. From a 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Korean War Veteran

A nice example of a Camouflage MK IV Helmet, which were used by both Canadian and British Forces late in World War II and into the post war era. The helmet exhibits an overall “salty” appearance, with all its original textured paint poking through its camouflage net. The steel rim exhibits some minor paint loss which is common with these helmets. Net almost completely intact. This Camouflage Mk IV Helmet is complete with its original liner that exhibits somewhat stiff leather pads. The liner is also worn in appearance and is affixed by a replaced bolt. The helmet liner is double stamped, the first is CCL III 1952. The maker monogrammed CCL, is for either Charles Collett Ltd -- London, or, Christy & Co Ltd England. Liner makers from 1940 – 1945. {there is a debate as to the certainty of CCL representing which limited company}
They entered production in April 1944, meaning the helmets were designed for D-Day issue. This is a very nice British World War II Camouflage Mk IV Helmet that displays an honest “been there” combat appearance. These Mk IV helmets are hard to come by, especially with original camouflage net present and fully intact.

Historical Description: The Mk IV Helmet was based off its predecessor, the Mk III helmet, which was first developed for the British Army in 1941 by the Medical Research Council. Although designed in 1941, the helmet was not manufactured until late 1943 due to production issues. The Mk III helmets were first issued to troops in April 1944 and then worn in combat for the first time by both British and Canadian soldiers on D-Day. Mk III helmets were designed to provide better protection for the side of the head than its predecessor, the iconic Brodie helmet, which were worn by Commonwealth forces throughout both World Wars. Mk III and Mk IV helmets are sometimes referred to as the “turtle” helmet by collectors, because of their vague resemblance to a turtle shell. The Mk III gradually replaced the Brodie helmet from 1944 onwards and was itself replaced by the Mark IV helmet, which it closely resembled. The differences were that the rivets attaching the chinstrap to the helmet were placed much lower down on the shell and the use of a “lift-the-dot” fastener for the liner. These modifications allowed the Mk IV to be utilized for carrying water. The Mk IV helmet was finally replaced In 1985 by the nylon fibre Mark 6 helmet which ended this iconic design in the British military.

The 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, stationed in Minden, Germany, had been warned off for service in Korea in early 1952. Preparations and training was carried out in Minden and Pontefract, Yorkshire, before the Battalion sailed to Korea, aboard HMT Devonshire, on 22nd September 1952, landing at Pusan on 30th October 1952.

The Battalion joined the 29th Brigade and, on 16th November, 1952, the Battalion went into the line at Yong Dong, relieving the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. After a month in this ‘quiet sector’ the Battalion moved to Naechon, relieving the Durham Light Infantry, just as the harsh Korean winter descended over the country, which made patrolling uncomfortable and difficult. The first casualty was suffered on 20th December, when Pte Kirkpatrick died of wounds. There was much more action in this sector, with fighting patrols clashing in No Man’s Land at night and a major raid to destroy a Chinese tunnel was conducted on 24th January, 1953.

At the end of the month, the Commonwealth Division was pulled out of the line and a hectic round of training and field exercises was conducted.

In April the Division once more went into the line and on 12/13th May the ‘Dukes’ took up positions on ‘the Hook’. A feature of great tactical importance as it controlled the entrance to the Samichon valley and through that to Seoul. It was a hotly contested feature and it had been known for some time that the Chinese intended to capture it. On 17/18th May the enemy began bombarding the position and on the 18th May a Chinese deserter brought information that a large attack was to be launched imminently. The Brigadier decided to leave the ‘Dukes’, who now knew the position and the defensive plan well, on the feature and a great deal of preparation, including bunker construction and strengthening, wiring and mining, the reconnaissance of likely enemy forming up points and many listening patrols, was carried out.

On 28/29th May the final enemy bombardment fell on the Hook position and a series of fierce enemy assaults managed to get into the positions held by D Company, and the entrances to many of the bunkers were destroyed with satchel charges. However, the Chinese were caught by the well planned artillery, tank and machine gun Defensive Fire (DF) tasks and the following waves were all but wiped out. A counter-attack by the Battalion reserve Company restored the situation and the Hook was declared clear of the enemy at 0330 hours.

There were many examples of bravery on that night, including the tenacious defence of his section position by Private Connor, for which he was awarded a posthumous Mention in Despatches, notified in the London Gazette on 14th August 1953. This honour is signified by the wearing of a bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of the relevant medal.
The ‘Dukes’ suffered three officers and 17 men killed, two officers and 84 men wounded, with 20 men listed as missing, most of these taken prisoner, during the battle. Estimates of the Chinese casualties were 250 dead and 800 wounded, largely as the result of over 38,000 artillery shells from the Divisional artillery and 1st US Corps Artillery Group.

For this action the Battalion was awarded the Battle Honour ‘The Hook 1953’. Later the 1st Battalion’s Headquarter Company was renamed ‘Hook’ Company.

At 2200 hours on 27th July, 1953, the fighting in Korea came to an end, with the formal declaration of a truce. The war between North and South Korea, though, continues to this day, with occasional flare ups and casualties on both sides.

Sir Michael Caine began his National Service with the British Army on 28 April 1952. A year into his National Service, Caine was given the option of either completing two further years standard National Service or completing only one year of Active Service in Korea. Caine chose to do the latter and set sail from Liverpool to the East Asian Theatre on the Empire Halladale. When he reached East Asia, he was based at Kure, the Southern Japanese mainland, for training. As part of the 1st Battalion of Royal Fusiliers, A Platoon, C Company, Caine was sent to the front line of the conflict - the 38th Parallel.

In an interview with the Daily Mail in 1987, Caine recounted some of his experiences while serving in the Korean war:
“...attack after attack, you would find their bodies in groups of four”-commenting on the human wave tactics employed by the enemy, which often involved groups of soldiers sharing a single weapon.
“We heard them talking and we knew they had sussed us…Our officer shouted run and by chance we ran towards the Chinese. Which is what saved us; in the dark we lost each other”. Explaining how while on patrol in a paddy field, Caine and the men he was with were nearly caught by enemy forces.

Finally, Caine’s national service was concluded by marching out of the Tower of London to the regimental march while wearing demobilisation clothes.
Later, Sir Michael Caine would draw upon his military experience in films such as A Hill in Korea, which tells the story of a group of British soldiers being cut off by Chinese forces.

Code: 25617