Vintage French Fireman's Helmet Plate - Ste Mere Eglise (D Day)

Whilst Vintage French Fireman’s Helmet Plates are collectable what makes this one special is name of the town, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town of Cotentin in Normandy to be liberated by American paratroopers and well known to anyone with an interest in the D Day landings.

Made of brass and measuring 154mm x 82mm the Plate is in very good condition and retains its fixing screw and bolt.

Its design seems to have been introduced at about the turn of the 20^th century and I have found helmets identified as being produced during the late thirties with exactly this style of Plate helmet so I have little doubt this example would have still been in use during WW2.

It was noticed in a skip in Sainte-Mere-Eglise some years ago, discarded by builders working on a house, and rescued.

A rare survivor which was most probably witness to the events of the nights of the 5^th   6^th June 1944.