This helmet was worn by Henry Beville MacDonald, a born Deaf Missioner in Truro during WWII when he acted as a firewatcher in Truro Cathedral. It was loaned to the Museum by his granddaughter, Davina Merricks, in 2019.
Who was Henry Beville MacDonald?
Henry, known as Harry, was born deaf in Dublin and had three deaf siblings. He was educated at the Claremont Institution for the Deaf in Glasnevin. When his father, as a newly ordained vicar, obtained a post as a curate in Barrow-upon-Furness, Harry with his siblings went to The Royal Cross School for Deaf and Dumb Children, Preston. After moving to London when his father became the rector of a church in Islington, he worked as an etcher but gave it up when fumes were affecting his health and he became a missioner for the Royal Association for the Deaf and Dumb and later was a missioner in Coventry and Birmingham, then after the tragic death of his wife in childbirth he moved to Bath with his three deaf daughters and second wife. He later moved to Truro, Cornwall.
He was in Truro when the war broke out and, as there was a shortage of men, Harry was asked to enrol in the Civil Defence and do fire watch duty in Truro Cathedral. He was over fifty at this time and as part of his training he had to abseil down from the top of the Cathedral. He said it was somewhat unnerving but he managed to do it. He would stay in the Cathedral about once or twice a week through nights to do his fire watch duty. He slept on a camp bed and nearby was a pail of sand so if there was an air raid it was his duty to put out the fire. He was provided with a uniform and helmet.