Trouser Weights

[seebee1]

This pair of weights were made and used in 1944 by a British Jedburgh to make his BD Trousers hang neatly over his American Jump Boots. The use of such weights I believe could place the wearer on a charge, but getting the look "just right" may have been more important to him! A little bit of trivia perhaps, but another example of a small and interesting item of kit used in wartime. Clive.

[leigh kitchen]

The metal weights from rifle pullthroughs were much used for this purpose apparently - a number of the weights threaded on a short section of the cord.

[Dave Alexander]

During basic training in the '50s we wore gaiters with BD, we were issued 2 pair of them. To make the trousers hang properly over the gaiters ("blousing" it was called) the second pair was turned upside-down and dropped inside the trousers. Buckled loosely they worked perfectly!

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

These look lethal!!!

[leigh kitchen]

During basic training in the '50s we wore gaiters with BD, we were issued 2 pair of them. To make the trousers hang properly over the gaiters ("blousing" it was called) the second pair was turned upside-down and dropped inside the trousers. Buckled loosely they worked perfectly!

Had'nt heard of that one - my basic training in 1972 meant wearing black polished gaiters, weights or "elastics" were'nt permitted.
Fortunately, blessed with infantryman's short legs I had plenty of spare trouser leg to blouse out over the gaiters without recourse to elastics, but I was forever getting checked by NCOs on suspicion of wearing the things, & being not guilty was almost as unpleasant as being guilty.

Then on to unit that wore puttees instead - & elastics (I think mine were cut down army braces).

[Jean-Loup]

"The use of such weights I believe could place the wearer on a charge,"
What exactly was the big deal with having these in your pants?

[seebee1]

Trouser Weights

When I was given them that is what I was told by the veteran. I believe it was due to them being non-issue and against regulations during the war. I may be wrong, but that is as I recall it. Clive.