Brodie Steel Helmets at Loos?

[scottmarchand]

Yes definately a Mk I shell with a private purchase liner and therefore later thatn Loos by a wide margin. It also appears to have unit marking on the front which I think didn't become prevalent until 1917. So perhaps it happend at loos but much later in the war, or the label is simply factually incorrect.

[Gunner Bailey]

Genuine question here, I simply do not know. How likely was a trained bomber to be an officer, in 1915? My notion was that bombers were O.Rs chosen primarily for their physical characteristics along with a goodly share of aggression. I could well see a man who volunteered to be a bomber being commissioned later in the war but Loos seems a bit early.

It's quite likely. Officers went on bombing courses and they normally led bombing raids.

A friend of mine has the complete notes from an officer who took part in a bombing course in May 1916, which covered all British, French and German grenades available at the time, plus bombing tactics, trench raids etc.

John