Fjr. Normandy Bocage Pads

[Allan B]

Hi All,

When I was looking for a house over here a fellow forum member and I looked at a house near Carentan. It was the L'Equillau Farm (just down from St Quentin Fjr. Rgt. 6 Aid Station). The farm was occupied only by Fjr. Rgt. 6 and one of its fields was a temporary cemetery. In the attic were a number of items, including the following, which local collectors call "Bocage Pads". Unit produced for the hedgerow fighting. If you have ever knelt down in a Normandy hedgerow, you will know that you have to be careful. When fighting you have to kneel down rapidly, without looking. Have any of you seen a pair of these before?

Cheers

Allan

[Allan B]

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[Allan B]

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[Ian Tannahill]

Giday everyone,

They look like traditional elbow pads. I have a similar pair that are coloured gren. I have never seen a pair of elbow pads that are tan coloured before.

Thanks for sharing them with us.

Best wishes,

Ian

[Allan B]

Hi Ian,

Not an Fjr. expert in any way and always willing to be educated.

The pads look a bit large to fit on the elbow (I could be wrong). They do not have any manufactures stamps. I would have thought they would have a better way of attaching them on, if they were manufactured (not just ties).

All I know for certain is that they are original and Fjr. Rgt. 6.

Regards

Allan

[Willi Z.]

They are certainly shaped like normal elbow pads. And, some of the contructions details are identical to standard elbow pads. But, they are missing some features such as the strap and buckle arrangement.

Interesting......

[Relic collector]

Hi Willi,

Not sure if you'll remember me but we met in 2005 in Normandy, you came over to my place with Tommy, Dave and some other guys, if you remember we went to my parent's orchard in the evening?

Anyway, I have known Allan some years and I was with him when we went to view the property which is on the edge of the village of Rougevalle, the house was a billet and small depot for clothing and supplies for Fjr 6. We took a look around the property and in the attic we found a pair of German standard ankle boots,a black fat dish and three orange fat dishes as well as the pads, I suspect there were other itmes around in the piles of junk we saw but to be honest we were pushing our luck taking those items. We were given permission by the owners though, we didn't nick them!!

As a side note, the small triangular field adjacent to the house on the bend in the lane was where there was a small temporary cemetery, (approx 200 metres from St.Quentin Farm - FJR6 Hospital) a few years back a couple of French diggers I know were given permission to search the field, I know that at least half a dozen Para helmets were excavated as well as some dogtags, buttons and belt buckles, etc.. (they were told that the bodies were removed in 1947) I was given one helmet and a dogtag by my friend as I wasn't able to join them that day.

As for their purpose I assumed they were a unit made variant of the knee pads or possibly made and issued for use in combat.

Cheers,

Steve

[Willi Z.]

Hi Steve! I sure do remember you and also meeting your parents. I have some fond memories of "night drop!" I will send you a PM to catch up.

Here is a photo of an FJ training in France in 1943 wearing both knee pads and the standard elbow pads.

[Willi Z.]

Here is another.

[Allan B]

Willi

Hi Willi,

Thank you for posting the photos. So they appear to be elbow pads

Steve and I looked at the pads again yesterday. The 4 ties and thin elastic strap are the only attachments, which appear to have ever been on there.

Are you saying that they were manufatured as a complete item, in this way? OR Do you think they are a unit produced item?

Was the tan colour used in the manufacture of elbow pads?

Your help in this is very much appreciated.

Regards

Allan

[Willi Z.]

Allan, here is a quick photo of my early war elbow pads.

Pads were manufactured in numerous color variations.

I have never seen anything like yours. The ties and elastic have me baffled. I don't think they could have been a unit level manufactured item.

Could you lay yours out flat and take some photos? Is there any size or RBNr marking anywhere?

[paulmfjr2]

Looking at the pic in post 9 a bit closer



There seems to be a tied loop, like a bow, in circle 1 and you can see a white band in circle 2 which is the same as on the found set of pads.

Paul

[Gran Sasso]

Looking at the pic in post 9 a bit closer. There seems to be a tied loop, like a bow, in circle 1 and you can see a white band in circle 2 which is the same as on the found set of pads.

Paul

The kneepads in the same foto appear to have ties / strings, too.

[Jos L C]

If they're elbow pads and the strings are original I think it's a bad design, you always need another guy to tie the strings or could para's tie a string with one hand ?

Jos.

[Allan B]

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Hi All,

Willi, I have tried to lay them flat, but the centre sausage (can't think of a better word) is larger and will not allow them to be flat. I can't see any manufacturers or any stamps on them.

Guys, well spotted from the 1943 photo of Willi's. The pad does appear to be held on by ties and a centre piece of white elastic. Perhaps they were manufactured this way. The ties would require another man to help put these pads on and they are no where near as strong as the method shown on the pair owned by Willi. Curious!!!!


Regards

Allan