Description
World War I M16 Helmet with Armistice paint.
Original M16 helmet shell with air vents on the sides, no liner present.
Size stamped “66” inside.
Painted on the outside (upside down) is: “11/11/11/18” (whoch stands for the exact date and time the First World War ended on 11 November at 11 o’clock), surrounding the helmet is written the name of the “Meuse” river (running in North France and Belgium and which was the frontline for most part of the Great War). And also “Areonne”. This is a typical old phonetic way of writing for English (American) speaking people. Many of the allied American soldiers spoke no French or German, and wrote the name of the Argonnen wood where the frontline was, phonetically as “Areonne”. This way of writing the word can be found in period American Army reports as well.
Overall the helmet is in good condition, there is still a large amount of original color present. The helmet was obviously used as a war trophy. AS the words are written upside down and there is no liner present, the helmet might have been used for a purpose that somewhat protected the outside. OBviously visible is that there has been water at some point inside (see the condition of the interior).
As a tropy helmet it is a unique helmet for any armistice or Great War collection or museum.
