Description: This is a standard, bowl-shaped, MkII steel helmet, painted olive green. Internally the helmet features a black oilskin liner made of five tongues (see 2nd picture inside of liner) with a rubber pad to the crown. There is a khaki coloured canvas web chinstrap fitted.
In 1938, the Canadian War Office began production of new helmet bodies that used this liner and chinstrap system.
About 12 million were produced between 1938 and 1944. In Canada, the military was the main user of the Mark II helmet. More than 1.1 million Mark II helmets were ordered from Canadian manufacturers.
Canadian helmets were issued almost exclusively to Canadian troops. However, there were exceptions to the rule, and 1,150 helmets were sent to Newfoundland. While the MkII is often remembered as a British helmet, these were widely exported and sold to neutral countries, including Turkey and Ireland, during the conflict.
History Notes: The standard steel helmet was issued to all but specialist troops of the British Army (e.g. airborne forces, crews of armored vehicles, dispatch riders) until the replacement by the MK III.
In Canada, the military was the main user of the Mark II helmet after 1940. More than 1.1 million Mark II helmets were ordered from Canadian manufacturers.
Below is a list of the Canadian Helmet and Liner Manufacturers:
Steel Shells: CL/C: Canadian Motor Lamp Co. (Windsor), AG/C: Aluminium Goods (Toronto), GSW: General Steel Wares. (Toronto)
Liners: Baskstay Standard Co. (Ontario), Scully Manufacturing Co. (Montreal), Viceroy Manufacturing Co. (Toronto).