WW II Canadian Helmets

The helmet decals worn by the Canadian Army were procured by Canadian Ordnance and records exist at LAC regarding the units/formations that wore them, who made them and how many were issued. There are also pamphlets on how to apply them. During World War II they were to be worn on the side of the helmet.

Since no one has researched Canadian Army helmet decals, I thought a thread on them should be started. Based on surviving helmets and photographic evidence, let's put together a list of units which wore helmet decals. I will start it off with the Seaforth Highlanders.

Fantastic helmet!

I don't own a helmet with a waterslide decal, but I have a few with painted unit insignia. I do have an original RCAF waterslide though.

Maybe we should have two topics, one for decals and one for painted examples. What do you think?

I think a separate thread should be started on painted unit emblems.

I'll quote from Roger Lucy's book TIN LIDS, CANADIAN COMBAT HELMETS, 2nd Ed 2000, Service Publications

"Regimental or arm of service decals were frequently worn, usually on the left side. Canadian Army (Overseas) Routine Orders allowed teh application of regimental decals or other flashes to the helmet." p. 14

In conjunction with this thread, I think a separate one should be started on WW II British Army unit decals. I will post one shortly.

If you want to post British examples, I will start a sub-forum in the Commonwealth militaria category.

Just trying to keep things mainly Canadian in these threads. Will advise in this post when I add the sub-forums.

Dale

This is a Canadian Mk II with an Imperial decal applied.

I have also seen the following unit decals (cap badges): Regina Rifles, RCCS, RCAMC, VRC, RMR, Winn Grenadiers. Also, the Calgary Highlanders had a decal which is red and white diced check in the form of a square.

Admin wrote:If you want to post British examples, I will start a sub-forum in the Commonwealth militaria category.

Just trying to keep things mainly Canadian in these threads. Will advise in this post when I add the sub-forums.

Dale

Commonwealth sub-forums added. I will probably split it into it's own category. Seems rather pointless to delegate Commonwealth items to the "other" category. I have no problem with a commonwealth category. Anyone agree?

Dale

Not mine, but I wish it was...

A transfer decal to the WG.

Nice one! There was one of those up for grabs one ebay recently...or is that the one?

mk1rceme wrote:Nice one! There was one of those up for grabs one ebay recently...or is that the one?

I got his one from Chris Brooker a few years ago. He had a few of them as I have noticed him sell the odd one on eBay. Maybe the one you saw belonged to Chris?

Cheers,

Geoff

mk1rceme wrote:Not mine, but I wish it was...

Hello,

This one was sold on french web site.

mk1rceme wrote:Fantastic helmet!

This one was sold on WAF.

GCR817 wrote:This is a Canadian Mk II with an Imperial decal applied.

An other of my colection.

Battalion Colours wrote:The helmet decals worn by the Canadian Army were procured by Canadian Ordnance and records exist at LAC regarding the units/formations that wore them, who made them and how many were issued. There are also pamphlets on how to apply them. During World War II they were to be worn on the side of the helmet.

Since no one has researched Canadian Army helmet decals, I thought a thread on them should be started. Based on surviving helmets and photographic evidence, let's put together a list of units which wore helmet decals. I will start it off with the Seaforth Highlanders.

I see you have posted a request on the War Relics forum asking for the whereabouts of the Seaforth helmet you posted...has it been stolen?

I'm concerned because I hate to see collectors get ripped off.

One from the RWR museum.

GCR817 wrote:A transfer decal to the WG.

I picked up one of these this past year from Gatewest Coin here in Winnipeg. I know they have at least one more of them - there is one currently listed on their online auction site (starting at $15). If anyone is looking for one, here is the link:

http://auction.gatewestcoin.com/cgi-bin/viewItem.cgi?item-number=1032236&t=306655

GALE & POLDEN LTD. was a British company which manufactured helmet decals for Canadian units.

given to me by a friend in Holland....

Royal Canadian Ordonance Corps

An other of my colection-canadian DR "plastic" helmet-British Guard Division

Nice lids! Thanks for sharing!

Hi all,attached are some of my Canadian decals. I have over 80 in my collection, most are to UK units. They can all be seen at the British Commonwealth Badge Forum in my album.

The decals shown are:
Queens Own Rifles - Badge on a Rifle Green Square
Canadian Provost Corps
Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Badge on a French Grey Background
Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada - also used by imperial troops
Winnipeg Grenadiers - used only in Canada, comes in sheets of six
Canadian Army - Wildcat Division - unknown, I can find no reference to this decal anywhere