In 1974 Arthur Bell wrote notes of his experience in the 17th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Arthur was also subsequently interviewed by Martin Middlebrook on BBC Radio 4 where he recounted further experiences in the First World War It’s fitting to follow Arthur’s original introduction of his damaged helmet:-
“It had a leather frame inside, and was issued to all of us some weeks before the big advance on 1st July, 1916. A few days after the initial advance I took my helmet to the Company QMS for renewal as it had a hole in it made by a bullet, which had caused it to roll up like the petal of a flower. “Yer wanna be more careful” said newly promoted ex-Sergt. McM [McMenemy]. Anyhow, he gave me a new hat.