Early Canadian Post War Converted HSDR/HSAT

[Mark K]

What we have here is a rather nice post war conversion of a Canadian HSDR to an HSAT there is very little published information out there concerning this type of conversion and most of that can be found is in the book Tin Lids....

What we do know is in the late 1940's and early 1950's Canada began to rebuild her Airborne ready forces and a new Rapid Response Mobile strike force which was formed to operate anywhere in Canada including the vast arctic territories to counter any perceived Soviet aerial threat..

They had enough AB helmets for the PPCLI but the RCR and R22R did not have enough helmets and as there was an extreme shortage and as two other army groups had to be outfitted and made airborne ready the decision was made to convert existing Mk I DR helmets that were in military stores to meet the expanding need...

The HSDR's were turned 180 degrees so that the brow pad became a neck support the skirting was then cut off and some times dome crash pads were added and the shells were drilled out to accommodate new leather harnesses in the Mk I configuration...

The requirement had been for 500 of these converted AB helmets to be converted but the exact number is not known... The helmet body was produced by the Canadian Motorlamp Company ( C.L./C.) and bares there stamp in the interior low on the skirt near the rim this example is only one of two that I have ever seen that is still sporting it's original war time number 3 # khaki paint as the majority of them fell under the brush as it were post 1953 and were repainted in either a gloss and or semi gloss OD green the troopers name and service number have been nicely inked on the interior of the helmet body...

The liner was produced by Backstay Standards ( BS ) and bares there company logo and date and is nicely marked with C-/I\ Canadian government acceptance stamp on the reverse of the sweatband and in the helmet body, as to the leather chinstrap it is thought that British WW II examples were first used until know more could be procured The harness assembly on this particular helmet is sporting a Canadian post war produced example..

 

Regards Mark