I couldn't resist buying this 1939 dated steel helmet with its original helmet carrier having not seen this pattern before. The bonus is that it is marked with the original owner's name, service number and unit. But here is the rub, I cannot find any details of the original owner or identify his unit. Other helmet carriers that I have seen tended to be worn by Home Front personnel and have a carrying strap. This example, almost certainly privately purchased has three hooks that might have attached to netting or perhaps to webbing. It might give a clue as to who would have used the helmet. With regard to the name G.C. Evans and the service number 737398 or 737399, the number falls within the block issued to Royal Artillery but on checking the R.A. enlistment books, neither of these numbers were issued to a G.C. Evans. As to the unit, it would appear to read K.G.A. but I cannot find a unit with these initials. I had thought Kent Garrison Artillery but no such unit existed during WW2 as the RFA and the RGA were amalgamated in 1924. Any thought about G.C. Evans, his or her number and the unit would be appreciated. Many thanks, Simon
Great find! Regarding "R.A. enlistment books": never heard of these. Could you tell me where to find these and if one can I also find names against number for any other regiments or units?
A nicely preserved helmet. Khaki Green No.3 inside and overpainted in brown on the upper surfaces ? Could it be that someone called back from the reserve used his old WW1 carrier for his new Mk2 helmet ?
Hi High Wood Firstly my instinct is to read the number as 737388, it might help later on (or not as the case may be) Secondly - looking at Ancestry for R C Evans, there is a 2nd Lt: R . C . Evans 1941 Royal Regiment of Artillery 2nd Lieutenant There are further records but I assume they are the same person, although havingsaid that and looking at the other entries it seems he stayed a 2nd Lt for the duration - it still possibly him TD Should have said I was looking in: All UK, British Army Lists, 1882-1962 results for R C Evans
Apologies, my terminology was inexact. Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942 | findmypast.co.uk You can search by name or by number but you will need to subscribe.
Unfortunately I cannot open the assoc'd file as it is in Fold 3 which needs a financial subscription and one I am not willing to pay as it is owned by Ancestry and I already pay them TD
Yes, I baulk at that as well but luckily there are Army Lists on line. However, they will not give his full name and without that it is difficult to find his service number in the London Gazette. Putting the number that I have into the L.G. search engine does not come up with a name. Simon
Kyle, many thanks for posting the details. I hadn't seen the entries before, only the initial search details as I no longer have a FMP subscription. It would appear that although being in the R.A. number block the number that I have does not appear to relate to the Royal Artillery. I had thought that it might be an officer's service number but if it is, it doesn't come up in a search of the London Gazette. Using the FreeBMD website, I have listed every combination of Robert C Evans and Richard C Evans born between 1910 and 1925 and there are some unique names, e.g. Richard Ceinwyn Evans, Robert Calder Evans and Robert Christmas Evans, but none of them show up in the London Gazette It remains a conundrum. Simon
