Genuine Falklands War British Mk.5 helmet

Hi,

I originally spotted this helmet on ebay, immediately drawn by the scrim and camouflage plus it looked as though it had some age to it. I bought the helmet relatively cheaply but they never seem to command a high price anyway.

When I received the helmet I did some investigating of the nooks and crannies before starting to gently peel back the scrim just to see if there were any hidden clues, it wasn't long before I found an Army service number '24396406' quickly followed by a name 'CHILDS'.



After some research on the internet I managed to find out he had served during Operation Corporate in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, I also found that some of him old Army oppos were trying to get in contact with him. After speaking with a few of his old colleagues I got some leads and eventually tracked him down.



We exchanged a few emails and I sent him a few photographs of the helmet and he was quite stunned it was still together after all these years. We spoke on the phone and he told me he had originally camouflaged the helmet whilst serving in Germany before being mobilized and shipped out for the South Atlantic.



He found it quite unbelievable that the helmet had remained untouched and said that he had actually exchanged the helmet in the stores system for the new Mk.6 kevlar helmet in the mid to late 80's before eventually leaving the Army in 1990.
















Brgds,
Tug

Thanks, yes the internet can be a great tool sometimes and with a bit of persistence you can stumble across all sorts of interesting things. A few years ago I researched and found the original owner of a WWII Denison smock I have in my collection, quite amazing and he is alive and well at 91 years old. Yes sometimes it can be extremely interesting what you can discover with relatively little effort.

Brgds,
Tug

That's very true and all these things are very interesting in their own right, but coupled together with a story and provenance they become so much more than that. What was once just a fairly ordinary helmet or smock suddenly has a history, an identity, something that can then be preserved for the future. I'm like a dog with a bone sometimes, just keep gnawing away at it

Tug

Yes excellent photographs indeed, I can't take any credit for those apart from tuning up with a car boot full of helmets.........I'm guessing you have already recognised the photo-graphical skills and style demonstrated by Ollie! I bet you can't guess which ones I took

Duncan Childs wasn't very forthcoming with information and it took a while to get hold of him but he did promise to send me through some bits and bobs which he did, so other than the photograph he signed there wasn't anything else information wise.

I had to join a RAOC forum in order to track him down but they were asking after him prior to a 49 Replenishment Company RAOC reunion........he said he applied the scrim on the helmet whilst in Germany so what unit he was with during Corporate I'm not sure but I will endeavour to find out and come back to you.

Brgds,
Tug

Edited by Tug1970 - 26/5/2015, 13:48

Hi Daniel,

Just had a short and sweet message from Duncan 'Charlie' Childs, said simply "9 ORD RAOC LAUNDRY SECTION" A man of many words!!

Brgds,
Tug

Gracias LMV, sí fue un buen hallazgo... Charlie Childs obviamente tomó un poco de orgullo en su 'pote de mear'!
Sí Ollie toma una buena foto, realmente debo invertir en una cámara decente!

Thanks LMV, yes it was a nice find.....Charlie Childs obviously took some pride in his 'piss pot'!
Yes Ollie does take a good photograph, I really must invest in a decent camera!

Tug

Childs may well have been just a laundryman but he is and was as brave as any ordinary man or woman. Sometimes people have to be braver for longer and is it really possible to put a face on bravery........it comes in many guises from the most unlikely of people young or old.

Tug