British Snowshoes

[Simon O.]

Has anyone ever come across wartime dated British snowshoes?

The reason i ask is because i came across a pair coming up for sale in a small local auction where i live. On first seeing them i thought 'Ah, German snowshoes' but no. They had the crows foot, maker and date stamped 1943. The sellers didn't even realise they were military.
They have a wooden rim, rope lattice work across the inside and a canvas strip in the middle where the foot goes.

Now, i've never seen a British pair before and just wondered how common or uncommon they are.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Simon, a mate of mine had/has a pair in his collection. They were as you describe. Not something you see very often, but quite a specialised item and not for everyone collecting wise.


Cheers, Ade.

[DJT]

I saw a pair recently on ebay. They appear from time to time but are not too common. I would generally buy Snow Smocks, Trousers and Gloves if I saw them at the right price because they were certainly used by the SAS, British and Commonwealth troops in NW Europe. However the snow shoes I am not sure saw that much use? and I find it hard to imagine frontline or combat troops wearing them (they would make them cumbersome and slow would they not?). If used anywhere, it was more than likely Norway by specialised mountain troops? I am guessing because I don't really know. I mean maybe the lads on the Telemark raid wore them

Speaking of the Telemark raid, did anyone see that programme on BBC where that survival expert guy (cant think of his name!!!) with a handful of British and Norwegian soldiers recreated the trek made by the real Telemark raiders. They used or tried to use as much original clothing and equipment as possible. It was very interesting.

[Guy]

Hi Des

I saw it and it was superb; I think it was Ray Mears. There was a marine from the Arctic warfare cadre, a para or qrf guy I think and a Norweigan Mountain troops officer amongst others. They all lost about 2 kilos in weight over a week and they only walked about 10% of the distance or so. Just goes to show how tough those chaps were. I loved the description of the chase on skis that went on for hours.

Yours, Guy.

[Simon O.]

Thanks for the replies guys. I can think of a few scenarios as to how these came to North Norway.


1.) Dropped with SOE agents or the like, or on a supply flight to the resistance
2.) They came along with the British troops who took the surrender in May of '45 (remember that snow is still on the ground then, especially up in the mountains), which i think is the most likely scenario.
3.) They were sold to the Norwegians post-war, which i think is unlikely as they had their own and the Germans left behind more than enough


Snow Shoes are pretty standard kit for winter ops. It's not always practical to move around on skis and it's not always possible to have ski trained troops, which takes a long time to do anyway.


I saw Ray Mear's program too. There are other incredible tales of endurance like that from Norway. For example the unsuccessful chariot attack against Tirpitz and the subsequent treck to safety in Sweden. From up where i live, Jan Baalsrud's epic of survival as told in the book 'We Die Alone'.


whenever i feel a little cold and wet, A little tired and hungry, i tend to think of men like those and what they went through. Put's it all into perspecitve.