GREECE
Italian-made shells, supplied unfinished to Greece just before WW2 (1939), where they were fitted with Greek-made liners.
This seems an exceptionally small
and unconvincing helmet.
This shell was also used in small
quantities by certain Italian
formations.
This is my fabulous "3-holed Mystery". I got it in an army surplus shop in Wales, was fascinated by its odd liner and the three inexplicable holes along the brim. I searched for information about it for a long time and it wasn't until I came across Robert Southee and his helmet collecting friends I had an explanation.
These three holes are not uncommon, I discovered. They were standard on South African-made British Mk2 clones, and were used for either a neck-shade or an eye-shade, depending on who you read - or which way round you wear the helmet, I suppose.
It was the liner that really baffled me. It's obviously modelled on the British original, but is also clearly different. The liner band is aluminum, the lobes of the liner some kind of thin shiny oilcloth.
The chinstap is just the same as those on British Mk 1 helmets.
Anyway, the facts, according to a friend of Robert Southee - take it away, Dave!- "This type of liner/straps were installed on British/Commonwealth (in this case a South African) shells by the Greeks in the post-WW2 period. The liner (the metal frame is a shiny aluminium) & straps are Greek made."
So, the facts as confirmed by more
than one of Bob Southee's
associates, indicate that the Greek
Army in the immediate postwar
period (possibly during the Civil
War) reused with new liners whatever
British-type helmet shells it could
lay hands on.
I have another example now, same
liner and strap, but no holes,
indicating it is a normal British
shell. I also have a South African
mk 2 clone, with the three holes,
but with a distinctly rough textured
paint finish, quite unlike this smooth
example.
This is another of the post-WW2 Greek refurbishments, this time without the three holes.
