Original WW2 1939 British 8th Army Desert Rats Helmet

~ Original WW2 1939 British 8th Army Desert Rats Helmet ~

This helmet was produced for the British North Africa Corps in 1939 and was used during World War 2 in the North Africa Campaign and the Western Desert Campaign. The Eighth Army was comprised of many different divisions and fought against the German “Afrika Korps”.

The helmet, finished in sand brown, retains its original liner and has the black and red desert rats’ insignia. The insignia is an original one but has been overpainted on a prior one (a red square).

The inside of the helmet is stamped 1939.

~ Desert Rats ~

The 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) was an armoured division of the British Army. It was formed as the Mobile Division (Egypt) on 27 September 1938, after increased tensions between Britain and the Axis powers. This was part of an effort to reinforce and maintain the British strategic presence in Egypt to defend the Suez Canal, which was seen as vital to the British Empire's interests. In February 1940, the formation was renamed as the 7th Armoured Division. During its early years, the jerboa was adopted as the mascot and divisional insignia giving rise to the nickname Desert Rats.

The division fought in most of the major battles of the Western Desert campaign, was then engaged in the Tunisian campaign, and this was followed by the participation in the Italian campaign. It was then withdrawn from Italy and dispatched to the United Kingdom, to prepare for Operation Overlord. In June 1944, it landed in France and subsequently fought across western Europe and ended the war in Kiel and Hamburg, Germany.

~ Condition ~

The helmet is in fair condition for its age with general pitting from use etc. The liner is also in good condition and is complete. There is no chinstrap.

~ Dimensions ~

The helmet measures 30.5 cm (12 inches) fore to aft.