My mixed bag collection (mostly British for a change)

[tubist73]

Here is are close ups of the anti-flash items. The early hoods did not offer enough protection to the face, so separate masks were issued for the lower part of the face. Later models were more like balaclavas and had a mask built in. Percy marked both sides of his mask PP.

[tubist73]

And finally a shot of the 1942 dated proofing stamp on the gloves. When the flame-retardant chemicals were exposed to water and wear they would lose effectiveness, meaning items had to be treated regularly. This anti-flash hood has been well-used, all the other items were proofed in 1942 and don't seem to have been used. I imagine they were spares.

The last picture is of a deck boot (not from Percy Pidgeon). They were high leather boots with a raised front lip and no hobnails on the soles, as these would have been very dangerous on the wet deck of a ship. These particular boots are dated 1942 and are a size 9.

[kevin john]

Hello i just loved the set up of the Lincolnshire regiment, i am originally from Boston in Lincolnshire so it is great to see something from close to home thanks a lot Kevin, .

[tubist73]

Thanks, Kevin, glad you like the Lincolnshire regiment display. Looks like you're a fair way from home, though!

Using the same base uniform from Percy A. Pidgeon, here is how he might have looked ashore on guard duty, in the first few years of the war. The Royal Navy had special web leggings, much deeper than those used by the army, and laced up with cord and a thin strap at the top (early models had a lower strap as well). These are dated 1938 and made by M.W. & S.

The webbing equipment is the 1908 Pattern, as used in the Great War, but in typical inter-war light green blanco. Left and right cartridge carriers sit on the belt (including a pre-WW1 left carrier without retaining straps), with shoulder straps and a webbing frog (late-war economy, without rivets) for the 1907 Pattern bayonet. A Mk II helmet completes the shore rig. I believe landing parties would also have worn this eqiupment, maybe with the addition of a water bottle and haversack.

Matthew

[RvL]

Nice collection!

[reinoudmilitary]

Wonderful stuff!

[D. Ricks]

Very nice.

[tubist73]

Thank you all for the positive comments.

In honour of those who fought in the battle for France in 1940, and especially those evacuated from Dunkirk by 4th June 78 years ago, I thought I'd post a short series of pictures showing the different types of dress worn by a typical Tommy during this campaign. I have chosen a member of the Royal Engineers in this case, from the relatively calm days of the Phoney War up to the long retreat to the coast during May.

The first images show our Tommy in shirt sleeve order, taking a break from some manual labour with a pick axe, early in 1940. The webbing equipment and battledress blouse have been put to one side in the heat, revealing some of the standard items usually hidden underneath. These include the under shirt, braces, ID tags, 1903 Pattern leather belt and pocket knife on a lanyard around the waist. The pick axe has a 1937 handle paired with a 1938 stamped head. All other items are from 1938 or 1939.

Matthew

[tubist73]

Now we move forward to May 1940 and our Tommy is now dressed and equipped ready for action as German forces move ever closer. He is dressed in his early-pattern battledress, a Mk II steel helmet and gasmask bag worn on the chest. Because he is not a front line infantryman he has the 1937 Pattern webbing with a pair of cartridge carriers on each side, rather than the more common basic pouches.

His large pack is probably in the unit transport lorry (the British army were completely mechanized at this point), leaving only his small pack worn on the back. He also has small wire cutters hanging from his belt and a water bottle on the other side. The Mk II helmet has seen some action, leaving a dent in the rim, and is covered with a rough painted finish. The shell and liner are both dated 1938.

[tubist73]

And finally, a view of our weary Tommy after the unit transport vehicles have been wrecked and abandoned outside the Dunkirk perimeter. He now carries all of his clothing and belongings in the standard marching order configuration. He is wearing an early-war greatcoat dated 1939 with Royal Engineer buttons. His large pack is now worn on the back and the small pack at the side.

Many photos from this campaign show British soldiers carrying or wearing very little as they were being evacuated. Others are shown arriving back in the UK with all of their full equipment. It seems that well-trained front line units kept themselves better equipped right until the end, whereas rear echelon troops and territorials sometimes lightened their loads on the retreat. Often dumping equipment they later needed.

In the case of our Tommy, he now has to make it onto one of the boats ferrying troops off the beaches or the mole, back to the relative safety of England. Ready to be re-equipped and retrained for the coming battles.

Matthew

[Ir 143]

British collection.

Fantastic. I like the british uniform and gear. At one time i collected canadian, i sell all canadian stuff. and noxw regret this.

[hayleyp]

fantastic

fantastic collection

[H.W Plainview]

une collection incroyable !

[John Bonnell]

Just adding my own words of appreciation to the many you have already received. WW1 British is my main area of interest and my knowledge of WW2 is sketchy but even I can see the quality of the set-ups here. Many thanks for a very enjoyable half-hour scrolling through, and for the useful bits of information provided! The WW2 KSLI figure in particular is the kind of thing I'd love to assemble as a one-off, but these days so much is put together that without provenance it's hard to have confidence in anything patched.

You have two nice sets of 08. We all know how hard is is to find wartime unblancoed pieces in good order. I think your green set might actually be prewar blancoed. I've had several green blancoed prewar 08 pieces over the years including the converted Slade Wallace haversack, which even cadet units would have rejected after the war with so much surplus about.

I take your point about not justifying the price of WW1 boots. Maybe you saw that a perfect but Size 14 (!!) pair of B5s made nearly £2K on ebay not long ago.

[tubist73]

Thank you all for the positive comments. Sorry I haven't responded sooner but life's been pretty busy recently. I have managed to set up and take some more images of my collection - just not managed to post anything up til now.

First up is a grouping to a Corporal in the Royal Signals, 70th Division, including his bush shirt (Indian made), slouch hat (British made), some insignia, a lanyard and documents. The shorts, belt and socks have been added for display. This Division has a convoluted history, starting as the 6th ID, then being renumbered the 70th during the siege of Tobruk, before being shipped to India. There it was broken up by the end of 1943, with many units transferring to special forces, including the Chindits.

I still need to do some more detailed research into the former owner of these items. I'm trying to work out what removable shoulder patch would have been attached to the triangular press-studs on his shoulder? If anyone has any ideas I'd be glad to hear them.

Whatever his history, these personal items show signs of a lot heavy and sweaty wear in hot climates. It's not often theatre-worn items show up in used condition like this - if only they could talk and reveal some of their story!

Matthew