windproof drab

Another recent find

One quite nice detail is the underside of the pocket flap that uses the (I presume earlier salt n pepper fabric??) there are still cutters markings to the cloth in blue . The smock has clearly been stored for along time

but also shows signs of use ,the hood cord is replaced with modern para type cord . The seller told me it had come from

Hereford about 8 years ago ,but there is as ever no paper proof of this

There's no evidence that these "sand" coloured smocks, made roughly during 1942 only, were intended for desert use but it is possible that again they were intended for warmer mountain climates (Mediterranean theatre - a sand-coloured "battle jerkin" was produced around the same time), hence the lighter weight and coloured, windproof fabric (actually cotton-gabardine).......the "salt n pepper" type is thought to be simply a variation on the sand colour.......these items supplemented to earlier drab denim version and both were replaced by the cammo version from 1943 onward......

Seemingly, a fair stock of these were held in store through to the 90s, and I think it was a Hereford area...... recall an old article in a magazine ("Soldier" ?) showing an exercise/urban CQB, that showed the "enemy" forces clothed in these garments (smock and trouser)........evidence exists to show that SAS did use these in Gulf War 1 in the absence of any desert-coloured windproof alternative, and that the older tape cords were replaced by some with more modern alternatives.........:-D

There's no evidence that these "sand" coloured smocks, made roughly during 1942 only, were intended for desert use but it is possible that again they were intended for warmer mountain climates (Mediterranean theatre - a sand-coloured "battle jerkin" was produced around the same time), hence the lighter weight and coloured, windproof fabric (actually cotton-gabardine).......the "salt n pepper" type is thought to be simply a variation on the sand colour.......these items supplemented to earlier drab denim version and both were replaced by the cammo version from 1943 onward......

 

Seemingly, a fair stock of these were held in store through to the 90s, and I think it was a Hereford area...... recall an old article in a magazine ("Soldier" ?) showing an exercise/urban CQB, that showed the "enemy" forces clothed in these garments (smock and trouser)........evidence exists to show that SAS did use these in Gulf War 1 in the absence of any desert-coloured windproof alternative, and that the older tape cords were replaced by some with more modern alternatives.........:-D

Thanks Steve great info .These are often mis sold /described as SAS or LRDG . like you pointed out there just part of

a winter warfare type clothing system . There are some nice period photos of thesee in SAS/SBS use in the Adreatic in 44

.They were plentiful and relitivly cheep pre Bravo 2 zero .