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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 173, 12 May 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

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THE XEW "ALL BBITJSH" STEEL HELMETS. A special correspondent at the British Headquarters has written to the "Morning Post" to say that "the new 'all-British' steel helmets saved many lives during the recent fight for the 'Bluff,' north, of the Ypres-Comines canal. Its efficacy as a protection

aganst shell nnd bullet wounds waj proven many times previously, but the decrease in casualties at tlio Bluff duo directly to this now piated head cowing in worthy of special notice. I saw eight dented or pierced helmets ic-dav thp wearers of which suffered no worse injury than idight scalp wounds, an 1 sonic escaped entirely. All would hare been killed had they worn an cid:n,M\ khaki cap. One helmet ind '.en dotted eight times by fallhg sirYipi'iol, while a jagged twe-inch liu'o in the "I'ov.n marked the ertry of a -inJ" fragment which caused a !h -\ v.oued Another bore a deep i'V . uv made '•>' the butt of a German rifle during the hand-to-hand fighting in the captured ireik-h. The wearer of the helmet was not even stunned, and he was aide to kill his antagonist, St 11 another had been dented by shrapnel unknown to the wearer. Several had been cut through by pieces of shells, but the net effect on the weavers was no greater than a smart blow across the skull with a club. "The helmets are of grey painted st el. rather like an inverted bowl in appearance, and Far From beautiful, but their v< ry simpli< ity adds to their elfectiv. no-s. The bead, ears and neck are fully protect; d. Soldiers call them 'i-tiup plntoi;.' A company wearing helmets and gas masks is n fearsome spectacle."