12th Engineers (Light Railway) Camouflage Helmet

A Model 1917 combat helmet painted in a colorful camouflage pattern utilizing multiple shades of green as well as brown and light blue, with each section of color divided by a black line. On one side of the helmet is painted “AEF” while on the front is painted an engineer castle beneath a “12”, representing the 12th Engineer Regiment, a light railway unit. The regiment arrived in France in the summer of 1917 and served a few miles from the front, operating and maintaining railways lines for the British Army until July of 1918 when it moved to an American sector. This helmet was obviously worn by a member of the regiment’s Company C, who served with the regiment from 1917 into 1919, since the dates of “17-19” are also painted on the front of the helmet. The interior liner is present but it has become detached from the helmet. The chin strap is also present.