1944-1945 Canadian Scottish Mark III invasion helmet

Object/Artifact

-

Royal Canadian Military Institute

Name/Title

1944-1945 Canadian Scottish Mark III invasion helmet

Entry/Object ID

2019.20.212

Description

1944-1945 Canadian Scottish Mark III invasion helmet

Use

A Second World War Mark III invasion 'Turtle shaped' steel combat helmet. The helmet includes khaki paint, liner, and chinstrap. Painted on the center of the helmet is the Canadian Scottish regiment insignia.

Context

During the Second World War, the Mark III helmet was developed by industrialists in 1941. It offered better protection on the flanks than that of the Mark II. The main changes to the helmet included a new rounded shape, thus resembling that of a 'Turtle.' Offering 38% more protection than the Mark II, it was distributed to Canadian and British troops in 1944 as the Allied troops prepared for the Normandy invasion.