My mixed bag collection (mostly British for a change)

[tubist73]

Hello folks,

Like many who post in this section, I feel a little over-awed by all of the truly excellent displays out there. I present for your viewing pleasure a modest collection of mainly British displays from both world wars, as well as a smattering of other nationalities.

I don't have a permanent space so most displays are set up temporarily then packed away again. I have also been banned from using any realistic mannequins due to previous scary encounters on dark nights, leading to frightened family members! Hence the limited and often headless torsos...

First up, a guardsman from the Welsh Guards during the inter-war period. All items dated from the 1930s or earlier.

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Two more shots. Sorry about the poor quality pictures indoors.

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Now for a Sgt. in the Corps of Military Police, XXX Corps, during 1944-45. Nice Canadian made battledress with original insignia.

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And a close-up of the insignia and SD cap (dated 1937).

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Here is a pre-WW1 Sgt. from the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. Silver metalwork for this volunteer unit and matching Victorian belt and buckle. The kilt is WW2 period - I don't have much hope of ever picking up such an early kilt to match the SD jacket. Note the early-style shoulder cords on the 1902 Pattern jacket.

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A close up of the belt and WW1 period Glengarry.

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And now for something well off the beaten track - a tropical RAF uniform from WW2. The jacket once had Sgt. chevrons but these were removed before I picked it up. A well worn and faded example.

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A shot of the cap with a very well polished badge and the faded shoulder patch.

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One of my passions is early-war uniforms from all nationalities. Often not easy to get hold of in their original, un-altered state. Here is a BEF soldier on his way to Dunkirk, in an early-pattern battledress uniform with simple buckle and unlined collar. The trousers have no button on the dressing pocket and the pullover is dated 1939. Oddly, all the items are in huge sizes - mostly size 18 or equivalent.

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Everything is dated 1940 or earlier. The bren pouches are the Mk I pattern.

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Next up is an early-war French soldier. I don't have a complete uniform yet, so please excuse the British boots and puttees. Again, everything is dated 1940 or earlier and is in a huge size (maybe this is why these pieces survived?).

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A couple of close-ups.

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And now the equivalent German soldier, a Feldwebel from 1940. The M36 jacket and trousers are from the same man. The M40 straight trousers have been re-tailored into this classic shape, which was presumably cheaper than having them made from scratch.

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A side shot of his equipment load and a close-up of the cap, still with its white soutache.

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And now back to the Great War - an officer from the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). I still need to get a darkened Sam Browne set for this. The jacket and breeches supposedly came from the same man but they are unnamed.