Trousers, Parachutist

[lambstew]

I picked up a pair of sexy pants today and thought I'd share...

Regards,

Konrad

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/parapants3.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/parapants.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/parapants2.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/parapants4.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/parapants5.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/oddball.jpg">

[Gary Cain]

Those have to be one of the nicest pair of trousers I have ever seen ....and no I'm not gay


Gary

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Outstanding Konrad! Do you realise the things people would do to own a pair of trousers like this?

Were they expensive?

Jack.

[Gary Jucha]

2 patterns ?

Can anybody confirm that there were two patterns of the parachutist trousers ?

I have been told that the earlier type only had a central button to secure the large pocket, .. and the later modification (as seen in the photo's) was to have a press stud added at each end of the pocket flap.

Regards

Gary J.

PS .. nice trousers !!!

[Aave Johns]

G'da Konrad;

Did the Poms carry a knife in their trousers like the Germans to cut parachute lines, is that what that pocket at the front is for?

Regards;

Johnsy

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Konrad, a super rare item Be prepared to get some PM's asking if you want to sell them

Hi Gary, not heard of that one before? So I cannot help.

Hi Johnsy, yes the FS knife was carried in the concealed pocket which can be seen on the seam of the left leg. The pockets to the backside and upper left front carried extra field dressings. Any other kit carried was stuffed into the chamois leather lined "map pocket" or the usual trouser pockets.

Cheers, Ade.

[Guy]

Congratulations Konrad,

A mega pair of Troos.

Yours, Guy.

[DJT]

Fantastic pair of trousers, Konrad. Bet they weren't cheap

[force136]

Trousers Para

Hi Gary

Yes there were actually several different types of TP made in various ways worn from 1941 - 1943 possibly into 1944. People dont realize how early this type of trouser is. In fact the guys that went on the Tragino raid wore them. Colonel Rock at Ringway oversaw the creation of these trousers. However like most British parachutist- airborne gear it spent a lot of time on the drawing table going through revisions and modifications. The final product is the example made beginning in 1943. Yes there was an example with only a centralized button on the bellows pocket. Some were fabricated using old trousers at Ringway and others actually manufactured. Hopefully Clive Law will have my book out soon which shows these two types of TP in question. I wish I had access to the earlier examples however talk about a rare piece of kit. I dont want to say that these were not made in 1944-45 however I doubt it. Possibly 44 but not 45. This is because - like the British Boots Parachutist - they were deemed unnessessary. ( why is a mystery because some that wore them actually had sewn on even more pockets. ) The allotment of TP for 5-6June clearly indicates that there was only a limited number available and obviously not all got them. BTW the dressing pockets were to replace the padding provided by the spine pad which was also made redundant. Has anyone ever seen an example of the spine pads??????

Ken Joyce

Can anybody confirm that there were two patterns of the parachutist trousers ?

I have been told that the earlier type only had a central button to secure the large pocket, .. and the later modification (as seen in the photo's) was to have a press stud added at each end of the pocket flap.

Regards

Gary J.

PS .. nice trousers !!!

[lnijherald]

Awesome catch Konrad! You are a very lucky bugger indeed.

Cheers, Luc

[Gary Jucha]

Thanks

Ken,
Thanks for your pretty comprehensive reply ...
The question of the single button actually was pointed out to me a couple of years ago by Roland Boekhorst - a conservationist at the Hartenstein Airborne Museum.
I had showed him a photo of my father in uniform, in which he had pointed out and made mention of the button / press stud variation. .. But up until your reply, I had not found any other reference.

Also, you mentioned the "parachutist pattern boots".
My late father was issued with the crepe soled Ammo style boots around late 1943.

Regards

Gary J.

[force136]

TP and Booties

Hi Gary

The reason I know about the boots is because the Brits tried to pass them off to us Canucks when our parachute battalion was forming.

So you are saying that you have a photo of your dad wearing the earlier examples of the TP? That would be interesting to see.

Ken

Ken,
Thanks for your pretty comprehensive reply ...
The question of the single button actually was pointed out to me a couple of years ago by Roland Boekhorst - a conservationist at the Hartenstein Airborne Museum.
I had showed him a photo of my father in uniform, in which he had pointed out and made mention of the button / press stud variation. .. But up until your reply, I had not found any other reference.

Also, you mentioned the "parachutist pattern boots".
My late father was issued with the crepe soled Ammo style boots around late 1943.

Regards

Gary J.

[Mons 1914]

Super, Very Hard to find & Condition.



Scott

[lambstew]

Thanks For All the Positive Vibes Guys...

...as Oddball would have said, "Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves maybe we can't lose! You're on!"..

As an airborne collector (mainly Canadian), the pants are a dream come true. I've only ever seen pictures and this is the first pair I've actually seen and held in person. The condition is excellent aside from some minor moth tracking and one very small hole. The trousers might have been worn once or twice but there is no staining or dirt what so ever to the bellows chamois lined pocket and most of the pocket buttons appear to have never been undone. The pants also retain their factory press and still fold together nicely. The press studs are Neweys for those of you with an eye for detail. In person they truly are a thing of beauty for those of you with an interest.

The icing on the cake for me was the provenance - the pants were brought back by a Canadian paratrooper. There was also his battledress tunic and two Kangol berets (which I had no funding left over for!). Yes Des - you are damn right they weren't cheap! Gary J. >> I believe Ken Joyce will answer your question about other earlier versions of the trousers which he has documentation for.

Anyhow, just thought I would share as I'm sure there are collectors out there who would like to see pics of the real deal.

Regards,

Konrad
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/oddball.jpg">

[Gary Jucha]

Afraid not ..

Ken,
I'm afraid the photo shows the later style, .. as was pointed out by Roland, .. he explained the trousers in my fathers photo, and then detailed the earlier differences he knew of.

Regards

Gary J.


-------------------

So you are saying that you have a photo of your dad wearing the earlier examples of the TP? That would be interesting to see.

Ken[/quote]