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'' O '' Canada HSDR's and HCDR's


Mark K

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These are known in the Canadian Service as the Helmet, Crash,Motor Cyclist Steel or A 15550 it is sporting a Canadian late war knotted two tone net and a set of Resistal Goggles which are WW II period correct and have been added for the purpose of display. The helmet body and liner are both dated 1944 the shell is a Mk I steel N# 3 and was manufactured by The Canadian Motorlamp Co. and is marked C.L./C. 1944 with the capital letter S impressed in the rear of the shell denoting the size as a small the shell is painted matt khaki green #3 which is correct according to the First Army Routine Order of the 27 July 1941... The liner is in very decent condition showing little to no wear and only has a few small blemishes do to storage the sorbo rubber is still quite supple and pliable.. The liner was manufactured by Backstay Standards and bares there company logo BS with in a circle it is in a size 7 there is a C-Broad Arrow stamp hidden behind the leather on the front crash pad.. With the addition of a new set of Resistal M-38 safety goggles with the natural rubber dust boots I have opted to switch out the other set of goggles I had out on the helmet for the display.. And move them over to another HSDR these particular examples are sporting clear lenses rather then the amber lenses....

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British 1944 dated Helmet Steel Dispatch Rider ( HSDR ) this particular example was produced by BMB and is in a nice large size of 7 3/4 it is thought to have been issued to a Canadian Dispatch Rider there are a few possibilities on the Arms of Service Flash ( AOS ) the first being Signal troops of the 4th Canadian ( Armoured ) Division Signals, RCCS, that was attached to the 21 Canadian Armoured Regiment ( The Governor Generals Foot Guard ),CAC, of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade ( 4th Canadian Armoured Division ) and or Signal troops of the 5th Canadian Armoured ( Armoured ) Division Signals ,RCCS that was attached to the 2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment Lord Strathcona's Horse ( Royal Canadians ), CAC , of the 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade ( 5th Canadian Armoured Division ) A recent addition to the display is a set of Amber lensed Resistal M-38 Safety goggles these were used by Canadian and British troops alike on there HSDR's and HSRAC's....

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Canadian 1944 dated Helmet Crash Dispatch Rider ( HCDR ) it's war time designation number was A-15500 ( Helmet Crash Motor Cycle Plastics ) It is thought that the contract was awarded for only 4000 examples of this particular HCDR in 1944 so they are quite rare and hard to source still sporting there original war time N #3 khaki paint...It is in un-issued and or barely worn condition with just a few small scuff marks and or blemishes to the exterior of the helmet body and is in a nice large size of 7 3/4...The liner is well marked with the Backstay Standards logo ( BS with in a circle ) and nicely ink marked with the Canadian C /I\ ink stamp in the interior on the dome....

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Kind regards Mark K

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Thanks for the images,

My Dad used to be a despatch rider during WW2...I think it was a BSA he rode,.and wore something like this helmet/ or the same?..then soon after off to North Africa with the 8th Army.

Best to you ....Ian

Dad in the Army on His Motorbike...1939.jpg

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Hi @Desert Rat if he was serving as a Dispatch Rider he could have used the HCDR in great Britain and or the HSDR...If he served in this capacity in North Africa he would have likely used the HSDR as produced by BMB as the HCDR offers no ballistic protection what so ever and they were strictly used on the home front..

Regards Mark

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Hello Mark,

Many Thanks for the info, I will have to enlarge the image and see what motorcycle it was? I am sure you are right, I think he was just a despatch rider in the UK...He never told me, just left the photos.

Best wishes.....Ian/ Desert Rat

 

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