Three Helmets Thursday
- Inka
- Oct 8, 2021
- 4 min read
My initial plan for yesterday was to relax and let my hand heal but something called me to the forest. The weather report for the coming days also had a bit to do with the decision to go searching. It showed a week with rain, and dropping temperatures, so it is likely that the rain will turn into snow.
When I looked out the window and the thermometer, it was 8 degree Celsius, which is very decent for being a week into october. I wanted to go and do another checking around a couple of barracks where I had been a few years ago and had found a few nice things.
On the way to the barracks I had to pass an area that had been used as a firing range shortly after the war, and spent an hour there picking some 5 cm mortar fins and fuzes. A few squirrels probably worried I was there to raid their winter supplies made lots of noise and jumped around on the branches.
I spent another few hours around the barracks. Other than a nice lampfoot I dug up a pioneer axe and a regular army issued axe. The rest of the signals I took out of the ground were food tins, cream tubes, a hammer, stove parts and a fishing lure.
After a little bit of relaxing and something to eat and drink I made a big loop from the slope I was in, through the forest along a hill towards the place where I had parked.
Circa half kilometer before the car were another couple of barrack foundations where I have searched many times, and walked past even more times. I hadn`t found much on the stroll there but now the detector suddenly gave off a great signal. It was a small rectangular box with the logo perfectly intact. "Cavalier" - German condoms.
Near one of the barracks it should be a small dumping pit I had started once, and I went to try find it. As has happened many times before the scream from the metal detector swinging in front of me changed the outcome of the day. Before I had kneeled down to check what had made the signal I saw its origin. The very familiar shape of a German helmets rim was sticking out from the moss and grass!! I could see color intact on it too! I got it out of the ground and it was in very nice shape, only the leather liner and chinstrap were gone. After taking some pics of it I put the helmet aside and continued with the metal detector.
Barely half meter away I got the same signal again! I made a cut in the ground with the shovel and could feel with my fingers the rim of another helmet! I looked around. The place was full of these small mounds built up from moss. Would it be helmets in all of them??! I dug up the second helmet and it too was in nice condition, minus the leather. I could even see hints of decal and winter camo on it.
I got back up on my legs and began checking the little mounds. They had no metal in them unfortunately but a meter away I had another one of those good signals. And I couldn`t believe it. Helmet number three!! Same shape as the two previous ones! What an amazing day this turned out to be! I closed my eyes and swung the Fisher again. Great signal! But this time it was parts of a mortar grenade box. I checked the surrounding area thoroughly and it seemed like I had reached the helmet quota for the day.
Very happy I found my backpack and put all the finds in it and ended this weeks searching on a high note. With these three I have found seven helmets this season, unbelievable :) It will be fun cleaning them up and see what will be left of color and decals, and maybe names if lucky.
Today the shift in weather has already kicked in. The temps this morning were 0.2 degree Celsius and the snow had crept far down the mountain sides. I guess it will be optimistic to hope for such a long season as last year when I had my last digging the first week of December. But it will be a few trips to the woods again next week anyway.
Until then, enjoy your weekend and Keep Smiling ;)
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