My mixed bag collection (mostly British for a change)

[tubist73]

The ribbons sewn to separate button holes and a shot of the unit markings inside. The tunic is dated 1936 but it is not named.

[tubist73]

Here's an early-WW1 soldier of the Manchester Regiment, circa 1915. The jacket and webbing are all from this date or earlier. I had to cheat with the trousers and SD cap (1922 patterns) and the ammo boots are early WW2.

One tip which I have found useful for setups like this requiring puttees - stick a cardboard whisky tube into the boots and wrap the puttees as normal. Then all you have to do is stuff the trousers inside the top of the tube! Works a treat and saves a lot of time, as well as minimising the strain on original puttees.

[tubist73]

And a close up of the jacket and P1908 webbing.

[tubist73]

And now a cracking inter-war officer's SD jacket and cap to the 17th/21st Lancers. These two items belonged to the same officer, a Major, but are unfortunately unnamed. The Sam Browne kit all belonged to a different officer and is all 1917 dated. I love the distinctive chain-mail epaulettes (I believe a throw-back to cavalry service in India, used to protect against sword blows).

[tubist73]

And a close up of the cap and motto (badge).

[Crusader17]

Very nice and interesting collection.

[tubist73]

And sticking with the cavalry theme, here is a British trooper from the Great War in a mounted greatcoat (1915) and wearing a 1903 pattern bandolier and haversack for 'Other Services'. The mounted pattern mess tin is stamped with the service no. of a RHA trooper killed in 1917.

[tubist73]

The saddle bags are stamped NTHN AC and dated 1909. I've not worked out which unit this stamp refers to - if anyone can suggest an identification I would be very happy to know.

[tubist73]

Very nice and interesting collection.

Many thanks. Glad you liked it.

Matthew

[tubist73]

And to finish off today, another cavalry trooper but from a different nation and war - a member of the German Kavallerie circa 1941. The shoulder boards are probably too early for the M41 Feldbluse, but do match the 1936-dated side cap with gold soutache. Everything else is dated 1941 or earlier.

[tubist73]

And closer shots from the front and back. I realised that the gas mask canister would probably be worn in a special way for mounted soldiers, but I'm not sure how this was done?

[Guardian 5]

Hi Matthew,

Count me in as one of your U.S. fans; great collection!

Thanks very much for sharing. I fully realize the amount of work that goes in to pulling everything out and setting it on the mannequin just so.

Fellow forum member and premier illustrator Ron Volstad provides this illustration of a mounted soldier's rig in German Combat Equipments 1939 - 45 by Gordon Rottman.

All the best,
TJ

[tubist73]

Thank you for the kind words, TJ, and for the illustration. I actually own this volume but had completely forgotten that it included more than just infantry equipment. It's a really useful book with some classic Ron Volstad illustrations.

Do you have any idea what the extra strap is on the rear of the belt? I just had a look in my book but it is not mentioned in the text. I can't recall seeing a belt with that extra strap attached - either here on the forum or anywhere else.

Matthew

[Guardian 5]

Cheers Matthew,

Forum member MP44_tom has a wonderful website full of German combat equipment and owns the exact rig as depicted by Ron Volstad (see http://www.mp44.nl/equipment.htm).

Tom describes the rig as a "carbine holding belt." I imagine it was employed in such a manner as to prevent a slung Karabiner 98k from slamming into a mounted trooper's back during a full gallop.

I would recommend verifying this with Tom over on the WAF Wehrmacht Equipment sub-forum where he is an active and extremely helpful colleague. Tom is currently showing off his magnificent Zündapp KS750 with Sidecar over there as I write.

All the best,
TJ

[HAF]

super collection of many nations