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United States. US M1917 helmet painted by a WW1 veteran soldier
The shell is marked “ZC19” by the manufacturer E.G. Budd Manufacturing Co. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). It retains the original liner with the label “TIGHTEN CORD AND ADJUST NET TO FIT THE HEAD,” as well as the original leather chinstrap.
The paintwork is period-applied and features a camouflage base with drawings such as playing cards, American flags, and the figure of a soldier. The names of the countries “USA,” “ENGLAND,” “FRANCE,” and “GERMANY” also appear, likely referring to the places where the soldier was stationed.
The text “HINKY DINKY PARLE VOUS” is taken from the lyrics of the song “Mademoiselle from Armentières,” which was very popular among soldiers during the First World War.
The inscription “SAINT MIHIEL” refers to the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, fought from 12 to 15 September 1918, in which the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French soldiers participated, all under the command of U.S. General John J. Pershing, against German positions.
The inscription “ARGONNE FOREST” refers to the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, an Allied offensive of the First World War in 1918. It was the largest operation conducted by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during the war. The offensive took place in the Verdun sector, immediately north and northwest of the city of Verdun, between 26 September and 11 November 1918.
Original US helmet from the First World War.
