17/12/2022
== English version down below ==
2020年，我們團隊的在赤柱瑪利諾神父宿舍中發現大約80至100個頭盔。1941年，該處曾經徵用為英軍的前線基地、臨時戰地醫院，也是部分赤柱守衛部隊的最後陣地，包括米杜息士營、皇家加拿大來福槍團、香港義勇防衛軍、及其他附屬部隊。根據當時瑪利諾神父的日記，我們相信這些頭盔是供士兵使用的。
經過80年的洗禮，我們將保存得較好的頭盔捐贈予本地學校，例如喇沙書院和鄭值之中學、外國的博物館或與香港保衛戰相關的後人。同時我們把保存得最好的頭盔捐贈予香港海防博物館。可惜館方在2022年重新修繕後，或因各種保育上的原因而無法展出頭盔與其他大量捐出的戰時物件，包括徽章、英軍紐扣與裝備金具等多種物品，謹望館方能好好保存這些屬於香港戰時的歷史見證。
話又說回來，附圖包括一個1940年製的英軍Mark II頭盔與出土頭盔並排比較。經過我們團隊的仔細觀察、研究與總結，我們發現這批頭盔既不是第一次世界大戰中的英軍Mark I頭盔，也不是後來問世的Mark I*與第二次世界大戰中廣為人知的Mark II頭盔。
這些出土頭盔都有以下特點：
1. 尺寸大小與一般的Mark II頭盔相約
2. 頭盔是磁性的（英製Mark II的頭盔有防磁物料，因此沒有磁吸性的，方便官兵使用指南針；當然也需要考慮到頭盔長年埋藏地底而使鋼鐵磁化）
3. 盔邊只向內摺邊（Mark I, Mark I*與Mark II的盔邊內外皆有摺邊）
4. 頭盔頂部有一顆一字鑼絲收緊頭盔內襯Liner （1935年前，Mark I. 頭盔以柳釘固定內襯，不能調較鬆緊與輕易拆除；與一般英製的Mark II相比，出土頭盔使用的纙絲較大）
5. 左右兩邊以柳釘固定頭盔下巴帶的部件
6. 以黃銅部件繫緊下巴帶
即使這些頭盔埋於泥土歷經80餘年之久，我們仍然很幸運地找到部分頭盔內襯的碎片。附圖可見類似十字與圓形的內襯，我們相信這些頭盔使用與Mark I*與Mark II相似，甚至極可能使用相同的內襯。
這些特點都指出，這個頭盔與典型的英製頭盔相似，但又有各樣不同的細節，這些頭盔是否有特別來歷呢？除了英軍的制式頭盔外，香港保衛戰中是否還有其他樣式的頭盔呢？Mark Kozowy先生，一名外國的資深頭盔收藏家，或許能夠為這個問題提供一點線索。在外國Warrelic的論壇中，Kozowy先生曾經撰文分享他的英軍頭盔藏品，當中一個由香港捷和鋼鐵廠（下稱捷和）生產的頭盔別樹一幟。
在他的帖文中，捷和生產的頭盔與出土頭盔的特徵細節相同，包括1. 頭盔是具有磁性的，2. 頭盔只有向內的摺邊，3. 以一字纙絲安裝內襯等等的細節。在他的收藏中，我們清楚可見捷和的標記刻印在內襯上。我們曾經向Kozowy先生請教，他同樣認為我們找到的頭盔是捷和鋼鐵廠的產品。可惜已知捷和唯一的生產記號是刻印於內襯上，而出土的內襯並未找到相關記號，我們與Kozowy先生也只能夠從細節上推敲。另外,我們已經得到他的批准引用他的資料，讀者如果希望更深入了解，不妨直接點擊連結一睹捷和生產的頭盔（可能需要使用VPN才能連上網站）：https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/helmets/mk-ii-sporting-1941-dated-liner-produced-china-hong-kong-660404/?fbclid=IwAR1mK6uisaqJWwpOlWpHuTqsYJ5XAYyLbW0uaENccT18UQxBIoAA2cfWSXo
在這裡必須談談捷和鋼鐵廠的來由。1923年，捷和由鄭氏四兄弟建立，於廣東汕頭設立工場，鄭植之先生便是其中一位創辦人，起初生產金屬日用品，後來開展軍工用品的生產，例如鋼盔、工兵剷與手電筒等物品。1937年日本侵華，鄭氏家族將大部分廠房與機器搬至香港繼續生產，期間供應內地與香港大量戰時物資。捷和當時有於報刊上刊登廣告，由圖像所見其生產線涉足廣泛，亦不難看見鋼盔的蹤影。戰後重生的捷和依然以五金作為主要業務，後來改稱為捷和集團，轉戰其他行業。
或許世事冥冥之中自有安排，我們的團隊早前有幸獲邀到西貢坑口鄭植之中學的歷史課上分享。鄭植之中學正是由鄭植之先生於1980年捐贈部分創校資金而命名，惜先生於3年後辭世，未能親眼見證學校於教育上之碩果。值得感恩的是四十年後，該校校長與老師依然上下一心致力培育莘莘學子。在歷史科李老師與學生的推動下，我們才能進入課室，為學生以互動形式帶來課本以外的學習機會；我們也從學生們身上得到啟發，同時感激師生們對我們團隊的支持。
在分享中，我們講述了在赤柱瑪利諾神父宿舍中的部分發現。透過各項找到的戰時物件，讓學生更了解歷史上的香港、當時戰況與背後各種故事。意想不到的是，當天我們為學校帶來一些戰時裝備，當我們仔細比對與講解出土的金屬部件與它們在裝備上的實際位置時，學生們對此極感興趣與踴躍發問。
我們也分享了好幾個與戰時相關的故事。例如當時士兵只能以硬餅乾充飢不得溫飽，學生也隨即慨歎戰爭之苦，深深明白和平的可貴。此外，我們捐出一個頭盔予學校保存，雖然與1941年的時空相隔80餘年，這個頭盔能夠存放於鄭值之中學，也算是一種緣份，也算是意義上的「回家」。
最後，我們必須在此特別感謝鄭植之中學的團隊與歷史科李老師對我們的信任，令我們能夠與學生進行互動式的分享。我們深信歷史是屬於所有人的，也屬於我們的下一代的。謹望我們的分享能為學生們提供一個課堂以外的角度，認識1941年的香港保衛戰以及前人對此地的付出。以此紀念英魂不朽，永誌不忘。
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In 2020, we unearthed around 80 to 100 helmets by one of our teammates at the backyard of Maryknoll House in Stanley. The place was converted into a forward base and field hospital, thus eventually became one of the last positions for the Commonwealth unit in Hong Kong, including the Middlesex Regiment, Royal Rifles of Canada, Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps and other detachment units. We strongly believe that these helmets were of military use according to the diary of the Maryknoll priest.
We are astonished by what we have found after 80 years of the Battle of Hong Kong. We have donated helmets in good condition to local schools, such as La Salle College and Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School, also to museums overseas and the next generation whose parents or relatives were related to the battle. We have also donated one of the best condition helmets to the Museum of Coastal Defence in Hong Kong. However, maybe for the sake of better preservation, the helmets and other many items we have donated are not displayed at the museum after the revamp and reopening in 2022. We hope these significant historical findings would be well preserved under the professional management of the museum.
Let's get back to our topic on the helmets, we have set aside a Brodie Helmet MKII made in 1940 with an unearthed helmet. After our careful examination between these two helmets, we realize these helmets appears not to be one of the typical Brodie helmet Mark I used in the Great War, nor the Mark I* helmet or the Mark II in World War 2.
The unearthed helmets have the features below as some of the photos show:
1. shares similar dimension with the Brodie Mark II helmet
2. The shell is magnetic (The British has added anti-magnet materials onto the helmet for using magnetic compass, hence the MKII is non-magnetic. However we should take into account that the shell may be magnified after 80 years under the soil)
3. rim folded inside only (where MKI, MKI* and MKII folded on both side)
4. a slotted screw on top to hold the liner inside (not until 1935, Mark I helmet used rivet to hold the liner; the screw here is larger than the Mark II)
5. two rivets on both side
6. probably using brass hardware to hold the chin strap
Luckily, after all these years with heavy rain and acid soil in Hong Kong, we were still able to unearth some fragile pieces which appear to be the liner of the helmet. From what the photo attached shows, these helmets seems to be using the same liner which the typical MK1* and MKII helmet shares.
All these findings surprised all of us in our team, what could this helmet be? Were they using some kind of new helmet design in Hong Kong? Mr. Mark Kozowy, a well-known collector of Brodie helmets, may shed some lights on these questions. There is a post from the forum warrelics mentioning there were helmets made by Chiap Hua Steelworks before 1941 – and these unearthed helmets may be one of them.
From what Mr. Kozowy showed us, the helmets shared the same features for what we have here, 1. The shell is magnetic, 2. a single folded rim inside, 3. slotted screw and the same liner we have found. We have asked Mr. Kozowy and he thinks the unearthed helmets are all manufactured by Chaip Hua. Permission was granted by Mr. Kozowy for the information to be mentioned in the post, if you want to learn more about the helmet made locally and look at the photo posted by Mr. Kozowy, please click the link below (some internet provider may need to use VPN):
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/helmets/mk-ii-sporting-1941-dated-liner-produced-china-hong-kong-660404/?fbclid=IwAR1mK6uisaqJWwpOlWpHuTqsYJ5XAYyLbW0uaENccT18UQxBIoAA2cfWSXo
However, how Chiap Hua Steelworks related to Hong Kong? The Chiap Hua was established in 1923 by the Cheng's family in Canton and Cheng Chek Chee is one of the founders. The company first manufactured daily metalware and later produced military supplies such as helmets, shovels and torch lights. In 1937, when the second Sino-Japanese war broke out, the Cheng's family moved the production line to Hong Kong by supplying military materials to Hong Kong and China. There were advertisements on helmets, shovels, gas masks listed in newspapers during the time. Chiap Hua is still in business today and changed the name to Chiaphua Industries.
Not long ago, we were glad to be invited to have a sharing in Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School. To our surprise, Cheng Chek Chee, one of the founders of Chiap Hua, was the donor to the school in 1980! Hence the school named after him and he would be proud if he knew how great the school has become now. Thanks to the effort of the history teacher Ms Lee and her students, we have our chance to share with the class about our findings in an interactive way.
By showing what we have found at Maryknoll House in Stanley, we tried to deliver history knowledge to the class in an interactive way. We have also brought them several sets of vintage equipment to explain the brass parts we have found such as the slide buckles and showing them where they were used on the equipment. Most surprisingly, the students are extremely interested and keep asking us questions about it.
Also we have shared several stories with them. We remember we have told them the priests and the soldiers could only have a very hard biscuit for a meal due to food shortage during wartime. The students were shocked by the difficulties brought by the war and agreed peace is the utmost treasure in the world. At the end of the event, we donated a helmet and some other relics to the school, although it is after 80 years, we thought and we are glad that the helmet finally made its way back home.
Lastly, we have to thank Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School and Ms Lee for their trust in us and their effort in granting us the chance to share with the students. We believe history belongs to everyone and especially to our next generation. We hope by sharing something different from the textbook would arouse the interests of the students about history, also, to learn more about the Battle in Hong Kong in 1941 and to memorize those who fought for this place. Lest we forget their sacrifice for freedom and Hong Kong.
![[中文版本在下]The leather British military ID tag was found in the Stanley area of Maryknoll. Featured is Devonshire of the Mi...](https://img4.gluseum.com/952/098/428234519520981.jpg)
