My Italian mannequins

[Bill Grist]

Nick, Very Very..Nice...BILL

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Bustina maker info

Bustina is from Modena

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back to tropical!

Back to tropical

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bare view

bare view of camiciotto sahariano 1st model

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illistration

Here's an Osprey illustration if this very same uniform. These tropical pull over tunics are VERY rare I understand!

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Italian POW

And finally my Italian POW impression! Yes its a British Battle Dress uniform dyed POW dark brown!

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another view

note patch! "Italy"...and the high crown on the POW made Bustina field cap!
Almost looks Romanian in shape... this is clearly an amateur "camp made" Italian cap!

[NickG]

Note the Bustina

The Bustina hat is a POW made piece. It reads in embroidered text: July 24th 1943, Trapani, (city in Sicily) Prigioniere... = prisoner, captured during the battle of Sicily.
Note the chocolate brown dyed BD uniform as issued to Italian POW's!

[NickG]

other side of the POW made Bustina

POW made Bustina. Soldier's name, and city where he's from: "Napoli" (Napels) and "mama" (I'm)returning (Ritorni)

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inside

The POW made Bustina is reenforced on the inside with British "C"ration "Square Biscuit" box cardboard!!!

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liner shot

liner shot. This POW made an effort! Its camp made, possibly British wool?

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back to tthe unform

Another uniform shot showing the nationality patch as issued to Italians who were sent to the USA

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period picture

Here's a period picture. Note Italian military stars on collar. This is a POW (camp made) picture to be sent home to the family I guess...The tunic here is a US uniform (I think) with replacement buttons... Note same sleeve patch!

[NickG]

period color picture showing dark brown dyed BD uniforms as issued to Italian POW's

Here's a period color picture of Italian POW's working the fields in the UK. Note very same British dark brown dyed POW issue Battle Dress uniforms + greem Italian Bustina field caps.
One prisoner's uniform jacket and pants both appear to be repaired (patched up) with bright red fabric!!!

[NickG]

POW Battle dress

Close up of the chocolate color (dyed) Italian POW BD uniform