Guys, In the attached photo I was intrigued by the helmet worn by the man second from left. I'm inclined at this point to believe this is a dispatch rider's helmet rather than airborne one due to the lack of a chin cup. The photo itself is a well known one of Major-General Rod Keller surrounded by staff taken by Frank L. Dubervill (CFPU) not long after the D-Day Landings by the Canadians. I ask because the man in question bears a strong resemblance to one of the photographers assigned to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on the D-Day drop. DR or Airborne Helmet? Cheers ...
I think it's an RAC crewman's steel helmet - the motorcyclist's helmet (not all motorcyclists were DRs as any scaley will tell you!) had the earflaps. Pity we can't read his shoulder title. Nice battle jerkin in the wide shot.
Thanks Idler, You just twisted me sideways several degrees as I try to figure out the RAC. Here's another wonderful photo for your perusal that is definitely not Airborne related but might be of interest just for the visual appeal. Regards ...
Sorry: Royal Armoured Corps! That last photo is probably a contender for the 'sartorial statements' thread, though I'm loathe to mention the 'jerkin, highly-polished'.
Excellent, Just checking from your lead there are any number of posts on RAC helmets with this being just one: British Royal Armoured Corps pattern steel helmet That is totally new to me and maybe of interest to the wider Airborne community. What led me here is a curiosity as to Elmer R. Bonter who I assume dropped with the 1 Can Para. I can't find any any Bonter photos post D-Day. I'll include a photo of Bonter taken oddly enough by Dubervill prior to D-Day. Regards ... P.S. - It's odd how a knife nicely displayed will have a calming effect on the local population. Regards ...
Slightly embarrassed by my lack of Canadian references: 'Bonter' in the first photo is wearing the same diamond-shaped flash as the righthand officer in the photo in post 3.
Idler, I noticed too the hardly discernible triangle on the man second from left (#1 post) and wondered if it was a fabric crinkle or an actual flash. We may need someone knowledgeable in Canadian insignia to sort that out. From the few photos I have of both Bonter and Reynolds they wore nothing on their para smocks except for the left breast 1 Can Para wings. Regards ...
They definitely had some diamond flashes. Bi-colour ones were: 1 Cdn Army: red with blue centre band 1 Cdn Armd Bde: black with red centre band 2 Cdn Armd Bde: black with blue centre band The latter landed on D-Day so I'd assume it's them.
Thanks idler for sticking with it. I suppose I can kiss that one goodbye, but hopefully it leaves a few doubts behind. Cee ...
