WW1 French Named Infantry NCO M15 Adrian Helmet With Souvenir Plaque & Private Purchase Chinstrap

WW1 French M15 Adrian helmet with named 'Soldat De La Grand Guerre 1914-1918' souvenir plaque to front peak.
Helmets of demobilised officers & other ranks were officially decorated with the brass 'Soldat De La Grande Guerre 1914 - 1918' (Soldier Of The Great War 1914-1918) souvenir plaques as of 16th April 1919 & were issued by the state of France as a recognition of service. Some were named at the soldiers expense however many were not .
This plaque is engraved 'Serjent LAYE Etienne , Dijon ' who , according to the flaming grenade badge to front was a soldier of the infantry or Motorised Machine Gun unit . The leather chinstrap is a private purchase example sometimes available for purchase by senior NCOs if a more senior officer so allowed. With its early light blue paint finish visible to the interior dome still this was overpainted in the darker blue as per the 1916 order . The early one piece liner also denotes early manufacture prior to 1916.

Code: 14957