BELGIUM
This is essentially a clone of
the standard British Mk2 helmet,
used by Belgium in the late 1940s,
early 1950s. The shells
are Belgian postwar manufacture, beginning
in 1949.
These are definitely not
British WW1 or WW2 helmets repainted
in Belgian markings!
The liners are Belgian manufacture
and are stamped
ABL, signifying Belgian Army in French
and Flemish, with a year
of manufacture and size indicator.
(ABL = Armee Belge/Belgische Leger)
BELGIUM_Despatch Rider - liner
This very light fibre helmet seems entirely glued together, there are no apparent screws or fixings, it would be impossible to repair and is clearly a throwaway item if damaged.
BELGIUM_Despatch Rider - shell
I believe this to be a Belgian copy of the British 1941 fibre
DR helmet.
This very small and very light piece of equipment does not fill
me with any confidence!
BELGIUM_Despatch Rider - strap detail
Despite its flimsy nature this is a competently made and well finished piece of kit.
BELGIUM_Despatch Rider - stamp detail
This stamp is on the lower of the two cross-strips of fabric
shown in the general liner view.
TAWO must be the manufacturer (?), ABL is the standard Belgian
military mark, as referred to above.
1950 is clearly the year of manufacture and 57 the size.