During the first couple of years of World War I, none of the combatants provided steel helmets to their troops. After a huge number of lethal head wounds that modern artillery weapons inflicted helmets were introduced.

In 1915 the Brodie helmet was introduced. It was constructed from a single piece that could be pressed from a single thick sheet of steel, giving it added strength. It was given the name 'Tommy Helmet' by the troops.

This Tommy Helmet is made from pewter and mounted on a red pencil which has a silhouette of a battle scene and the words 'World War I 1914-1918' printed on it.