My mixed bag collection (mostly British for a change)

[tubist73]

Going back now to pre-WW1 times. This is a display featuring the short-lived 1903 Pattern bandolier equipment, used for only a short time by the British army until replaced by the 1908 webbing set. Only one item survived for a longer - a much longer - time and that was the 1903 Pattern leather belt. This was in use until well after WW2.

This setup is typical of a British infantryman in the years preceding the Great War. The service dress jacket is the early type with brass shoulder titles of the Lincolnshire Regiment. The 1903 set is based around the 50-round leather bandolier, here the earlier Mk I with complex brass buckle, dated 1903, the year of issue.

Various leather cartridge pouches were worn on the belt, over a General Service haversack and leather bayonet frog. The water bottle in its leather cradle was worn separately. This whole layout was apparently uncomfortable, difficult to adjust and generally inadequate for modern warfare.

It's interesting to think that many other nations continued to persevere with leather equipment, long after the US and British armies had switched to webbing gear.

Matthew

[tubist73]

Next up are two side angles showing the placement of items within the set, especially the rolled greatcoat held by the canvas shoulder straps. Underneath this is a mess-tin with canvas cover, with belt loops at the rear and a small round brass loop for attaching to the bottom of the greatcoat strap.

The trousers are actually a WW2 service dress pair and the shoes are Slovakian from 1942 - a close enough match to wartime British boots.

Matthew

[tubist73]

A view of the whole set from the back. The mess tin cover is marked to the Black Watch - or Royal Highlanders as they were known - and the greatcoat is an early-WW1 Canadian model. This is the closest I could come from within my collection, to the materials and colours in use at the time. One thing I have not found is the regulation manner in which to fold and roll the coat - any sources or advice would be appreciated.

The final shot is of the leather frog for the bayonet. These were not standardised within the 1903 set, and this one is a typical general service type. The belt has some extra unit stamps and numbers, including this one for 2476 in the 'LEY'. I haven't yet worked out exactly which unit this is, although I'm assuming it will be Yeomanry.

This 1903 Pattern set has taken many years to assemble. Even though the original items were not popular with the troops they do have a classic look to them when displayed like this.

Matthew

[jack1]

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

This is not a combat helmet at all.
Its a home front helmet sorry.

[tubist73]

This is not a combat helmet at all.
Its a home front helmet sorry.

Hello and thanks for spotting one of my many, many flaws when trying to assemble and display original period items like this. I guess it's one of the reasons that encourages us all to continue collecting and learning; that desire to get it historically as accurate as we can, all these many years later. I know many people also enjoy pointing out the inaccuracies in professional museum displays with great glee!

You're absolutely correct that this is a home front helmet with the shiny outer paint. Unfortunately, it was the only version I had at the time. But it is all original and dated 1939 so a pretty close approximation, minus the outer layer, and matches my description.

I'll try and do better next time.

Matthew

[tubist73]

I've not had much chance to unpack or photograph much recently but I had some time today during the snowy weather that just arrived in France.

It's not often there's an opportunity to take winter shots here, so I thought it would be nice to set up an Eastern Front soldier. Here's a German cavalry Unteroffizier on guard duty somewhere in Russia, after a hard day's riding. He wears the typical cold weather clothing of the first winter, 1941-2. Completely inadequate for the extreme cold but a classic look with greatcoat, equipment and Feldmütze.

All items are early-war period, mostly dated 1939-40, with mostly aluminium fittings. The Feldmütze still has its original golden cavalry piping.

Matthew

[tubist73]

And a couple of closer shots to see some details. The light was fading fast by this point.

[Etienne B.]

Great setup..as usual Like the winter atmosphere as well...job wel done !

Etienne

[tubist73]

Thanks, Etienne. Much appreciated.

Here is a figure inspired partly by one of the images in the excellent reference book 'Khaki Drill and Jungle Green', showing one of the last British cavalry troopers at the start of WW2. Several Yeomanry regiments continued to serve on horseback in the Middle East up until 1941, when they were finally converted to armoured units.

Here is a typical trooper serving between the wars, either in India or the Middle East. He's wearing an early-style shirt with KD Indian-made cavalry breeches, trouser braces, puttees and ammo boots with spurs. On his head is a Bombay Bowler sun helmet, typical for troops stationed in India at the time. Almost all items are dated 1939 or earlier. He carries the 9-pocket bandolier, haversack for other services and 1903 Pattern belt and water bottle.

All I need now is a horse.....

Matthew

[tubist73]

His weapon is the 1908 Pattern cavalry sword, in this case a pre-WW1 example dated 1911. It has a lot of service wear and what looks like shrapnel damage on the guard. The 1903 Pattern waterbottle cradle is also a pre-war item dated 1903, the first year of issue. It still has the original sewn joints at the bottom, with the uppers replaced with rivets. The strap is the shortened version for cavalry.

[tubist73]

The sword was made by Enfield and came with what looked like its original strap, tightly knotted to the guard (now untangled). The Bombay Bowler was made in India and is typical of the sun helmets worn by cavalry troops of the period.

[tubist73]

I don't have many naval items, aside from a Kriegsmarine group and a couple of other pieces. However, I just acquired a small Royal Navy grouping to the same man, Percy A. Pidgeon, with several named uniform items.

Percy was a wireless telegraphist, as seen from the insignia on his right sleeve (second image). Here is a quick overview of his Class II blues including jumper, bell-bottom trousers and cap with war-time H.M.S. tally. All of these items date to around 1941-2 and are incredibly small in size. I have added some things to complete the impression, including the RN boots (without hobnails), blue jean collar, silk scarf and lanyard. Researching and learning about Royal Navy uniforms has been a real education - they are a law unto themselves, based upon centuries of tradition and evolution. I am also hoping to be able to learn more about Percy's wartime service.

Matthew

[tubist73]

Here is a side angle showing his rank and a single long-service stripe. Lastly, a close up of Percy's 'Cap, Cloth, Blue' which is the typical round shape used throughout the war. An oval-shaped cap was introduced from September 1945, making it much easier to distinguish wartime examples.

[JMmilitaria]

Very nice collection!!

[tubist73]

Thank you for the comments.

Here are some more things that belonged to Percy Pidgeon, including some named items that are not often found together. I have taken an early pattern duffel coat and tried to set things up as they would have been used on the deck of a ship in action, in poor weather. The coat is large but Percy's items are all very small, hence the slightly strange look when everything is put together.

The duffel coat was issued as necessary to sailors exposed during bad weather, as were the large leather deck boots. The anti-flash items were donned when in action, covering those parts of the face and body that could be exposed near to gunfire. Everything was made of cotton then treated with flame-retardant chemicals. All of Percy's items are stamped as being proofed in 1942.

The inflatable life-belt is the rarer light-coloured version. More common was the dark cloth belt. Percy's belt is named in 3 places and is still quite flexible. I'm not sure it would have been worn over a duffel coat, given how heavy the woollen coat would have been when wet, but it suited the purpose of this display.

Matthew