Royal Artillery MkII Helmet – ‘Walter Hipkin’ 142 Field Regiment

Original WWII Royal Artillery MkII helmet. The helmet is named to Walter Hipkins, born on July 31, 1910, in Sunderland, who passed away on April 29, 2007. Hipkins enlisted in the Royal Artillery on May 18, 1939, and was posted to the 142nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (16-9-1944). The helmet still bears the Royal Artillery flash, which remains well-preserved, with traces of an earlier flash visible beneath. The helmet includes its original liner, made by ‘Helmets Ltd’ and dated 1939, in size 7. The liner shows signs of use but is otherwise intact. Hipkins’ name and service number are also hand-written inside, adding to its provenance. He was awarded with the Long-Service and Good-Conduct medal.

This helmet presents a unique opportunity for further research into the life and service of Walter Hipkins and his role in the Royal Artillery during the war.