Photos of Canadian Soldiers Wearing U.S. M1 Helmets - 1960

I'm not quite sure when the Canadian Forces officially adopted the use of the American M1 helmet. I found these pictures, both from 1960, showing the M1 in wear.




This picture was labeled: Sept. 1960-Cdn - from a veterans online photo album.

I did a little reading on when the M1 was finally adopted by the Canadian Army...apparently it was September 1960. That would make this photo a very early documentation of its use since it is also dated Sept 1960.

Hello the regular Canadain Army adopted the M-1 in 1960. The Canadain Militia contuined to use the Mk2 British type helmet throught the 1960s until 1970. The RCN contuined to use the Brtish type helmet till 1970 as well. Hope this helps THomas

250,000 US M1 helmets were bought, by Canada, during the Second World War. Use was primarily limited to Pacific Coast. Worn by Cdns at Kiska also. See full story in "Tin Lids".

Clive

Here is a CF Photograph of a 1SSM Battery Gunner sighting an Honest John Missile.

Looks like a SWW vintage M1 with fixed bales. It even appears to have the leather chinstrap on the liner. Nice to see evidence of those early helmets being used by Canadians.

It was possible to find just about any WWII version of the US M1 being worn in Canada right up until the CG634 was issued.   The trick was getting one that had not been 'upgraded' over the years.   Thankfully my old unit had a few senior guys in it who had had their M1s issued in the 1960s or 1970s so I managed to rescue a few nice ones from them including this early M1.

True, I saw numerous SWW vintage shells with fixed bales that had the chinstrap replaced with the removable (1980's ?) type that had a chin cup. Also, the odd guy would have a liner from the 50's that had a slightly different suspension set up as they were originally intended to sit on the head slopped to the rear to cover the back of the head, ala World War 2.

With a Hawley/General Fiber liner too! Nice!