German sniper mask : Private L C Macarthur, II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment

Steel German sniper mask (Sappenpanzer Gesichtsmaske). Both sides and lower rim of the mask curve outwards at the lip. The lower right side of the mask has been made to accomodate the firing of a wooden shoulder stock a Gew98 bolt action service rifle. A pair of small slit apertures through the upper front of the helmet allow the firer to look through to the target. The internal protective brow padding and strapping arrangement is partially missing. Also missing is one of the five steel lugs which secure the brow padding to the interior of the mask. There are remnants of original green and brown camouflage paint on both the external and internal surfaces.

This rare steel German sniper mask (Sappenpanzer Gesichtsmaske) is associated with the service of Private Lorne Campbell Macarthur during the First World War.

The item is significant in its association with the static nature of trench warfare on the Western Front. Sniping assumed a great prominence on the battlefield and much effort was put by both the Allies and the Central Powers into developing techniques and equipment. This mask represents Imperial German developments in the last year of the war.

The mask was recovered and brought to Australia by 2042 Private Lorne Campbell Macarthur. Macarthur joined the AIF in late 1915 at age 20, embarking for overseas service in January 1916 with the 4th Light Horse Regiment. His unit combined with a New Zealand Mounted Squadron to form the 2nd ANZAC Mounted Regiment (later known as II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment) in July 1916 and with this unit he was sent to France.

In 1917 he was temporarily detached to an Anti-aircraft section and prisoner escort party before returning to his unit. In March 1918 he was again detached this time to an AIF salvage unit with which he was wounded in action the following month. After his recovery in the UK he returned to Australia in April 1919 before discharging from the AIF three months later.

An interesting fate befell the helmet post-war. For many years this helmet was used by the family Lorne Macarthur as a convienent door stop in their home before it made its way to the collection of the Australian War Memorial in 2013.