WW1 French Colonial Medical Troops M15 Adrian

A very nice WW1 M15 Adrian helmet in the mustard colour of the ' Armee D'Afrique ' .
With the rarer medical insignia to front of helmet this depicts Caduceus with the serpent of Epidaurus encircling the mirror of prudence. Flanked by the letters RF & surrounded by a laurel oakleaves this was adopted in August 1914 when the War Ministry recommended its issue for Doctors & medics. With regard to Colonial troops these were first issued in their factory blue but then mustard painted as here as the war went on . A mix of the early blue & different shades of the mustard colour will be encountered as this was never standardised. With overall wear to the paint the front plate is original to it & mustard painted at the same time as the rest. Manufacture of the shell is by the firm Japy with owners initials scratched into the underside of the rear peak over the mustard paint which has been applied to the underside of the front rim also. The early 1915 one piece liner is still intact with early light blue factory paint visible underneath it inside the crown. The original leather chinstrap remains .
A scarce medic helmet & difficult to find in its original mustard colour of the Armee D'Afrique .

Code: 11017