The Basics
Blue, Green, and Grey
Home service helmets can be blue, green, or grey. Blue could be used by anyone, primarily infantry. Green was used by light infantry and rifle regiments. Dark green was also used by rifle regiments. Grey helmets were worn by volunteer units. Multiple varieties of grey exist.
Different Colored Fittings
Helmets can have white, gilt, or blackened metal fittings. White metal was used by volunteer units. Blackened metal was used by rifle units. Gilt metal was used by basically everyone else. Sometimes the white metal plates are made of silver.
Spike Top or Ball Top
Ball tops were worn by the Army Service Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Army Veterinary Department, and the Artillery. Pre-1881 Artillery Helmets have spike tops.
Helmet Tins
Officers helmets were often stored in carrying tins. The tins vary in size and construction but should somewhat resemble the general shape of the one pictured here. They may display a name plate or manufacturer's plate, or might have a name "painted" on the lid in white letters. Tins may also have no form of identification whatsoever. The inside of the tin may or may not have a small bar on the bottom to keep the helmet secure. Such tins were sometimes lined with newspaper by their owners.