Bergen Rucksack Thread

[RobNZ]

Hi all,
I thought id start a bergen rucksack thread. Ive looked all over the net and can find very little written about them.
Do you have one you could post? Who used them? Any pics of them in use in WW2? The early tan version and the later green waterproofed version?

I look forward to any contributions so we can all learn more about these.

Rob (NZ)

[Darwin M]

Well RobNZ,


Americans used it as wel as British Commando/ and SAS units.


cheers,

Darwin M

[DJT]

Rob,

As Darwin already mentioned they are mostly associated with Commando/Airborne/SAS use. The SAS used the green ones while the Commandos/Airborne seemed to use both tan and green rucksacks. I've included a photo of my green rucksack below (it is dated 1944). There are many wartime photos showing them being used. Probably the most famous images showing them being worn are those of British commandos coming ashore on D-Day. Look in any D-Day book and you should spot the photos in question.

[DJT]

Had a quick search on the net and found these within a minute. Google is quite handy.

[DJT]

..

[Darwin M]

Hi Des Thomas,


Yours Bergen rucksack looking good I am also looking for that one for mine collection.

Cheers Darwin M

[Haplo]

Had a quick search on the net and found these within a minute. Google is quite handy.

Nice picture Des.
That is Bill Millin.
Lord lovat can be seen in the water on the right.

How dou you keep the straps so nice rolled up Des?

I have a tan one in my collection.
Will take a picture of it.

[Haplo]

Here is the one in my collection.
Dated 1941.
Have found the way to keep the straps rolled up. (i hope)
It is in a used but good condition.
The attached Crampons are for my project i am working on.
It will be a mounteneer.

Here are more detailed pictures.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is mine, see on the forum before actually. 1945 dated.

I swopped this with a neighbour for some garden paving slabs

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

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