SimonLMoore

Looking for an example of the Falklands era orange RN survival suit preferably with the associated black pouch it was carried in. Probably a long shot but here's hoping! :-D

Thanks very much for the replies chaps, very useful info, absolutely agree on the KFS point. What could be more civilised than a washroll you can tie around your waste Tony!? These are now being made in MTP camouflage so there must be some who still think they are fit for purpose, if not in more 'civilised' environments. The example photographed is dated '78, the other I have is '54 as I remember, sadly it's had it's webbing tapes removed so there's some sewing to do. The soap dish is a '45 dated issue aluminium example, just looks longer I suppose as the bottom edge is just inside the pouch...

Hi Chaps, Have a question regarding the use of the post war holdall/washroll. I've seen from photos of kit layouts that the simple off white canvas type seems to have been in use into the '50s. I'm interested as to whether anyone can advise on use of the later rubberised green types, both '44 Pattern' and the '50s type which I believe has an extra pocket. Seen the latter dated as late as the '70s, have a 1978 example in the collection. Basically interested in usage, was it common to carry these in the field? Were there prescribed contents and specific pockets for specific items? Attached is a work in progress of a holdall to accompany '60s kit layouts, critique would be appreciated, considering exchanging the aluminium soap dish for a plastic example. Shaving cream and KFS in pouch are missing.

Hey chaps, Hoping a fellow collector on here might be able to help with a little bit of restoration work on a set of 1972 Pattern webbing recently purchased. The strap on the haversack flap for securing the shovel handle/pick helve has been removed and I intend to replace it using some strap from a spares/repairs GS bergen and a modern cam buckle. Could someone with a 1972 set please let me know the length of this strap and perhaps share a photo of how the cam buckle is attached? Many thanks in advance!

It's definitely '67. The padding had degraded a bit but I gave it a coat of copydex which has stopped it crumbling.

Picked this up recently, I didn't realise the Mk. V helmet liner was around quite this early, does anyone know a date of introduction? Differs a little from later examples in colour and details of the foam spacers around the edge.

I take greater exception to wielding the Stens whilst holding the magazine/mag housing!

Photo of T Mic compared to the MK. V face piece.

Not for me you understand but on behalf of my fiancée... :angel: First off I was wondering if anyone knows when WRAC/QARANC started wearing what would be considered combat uniform. My reference points so far; a 1972 issue of soldier magazine shows QARANC wearing '60 pattern combats whilst engaged in a mock civil defence/emergency scenario... Photos dating from the late '60s and early '70s showing WRAC on jungle training in JGs and jungle boots. The second question regards WRAC Provost, I know for a long time they wore the men's khaki SD cap with red cover and then had a red version of the distinctive women's forage cap but a photo from Berlin in the 1960s (attached) seems to show a men's RMP forage cap being worn, so I'm basically looking for confirmation that they wore this for a period before the red cap in the women's style was introduced and specifics, if anyone knows...

I have always understood that these were made in Hong Kong. Will check the markings on mine when I get a chance but I don't think they're any different from those already shared.

If you look on the base of the filters you will see Roman numerals, buff, or khaki are the E IV (up to c. 1938 ish) E V (c. 1939) and the dark brick red type are E VI (c. 1940 onwards). There are two military face-pieces with the protrusion for the use of a microphone, the standard issue Mk. V, which is the plain black rubber type with the protrusion usually left unopened and the Special T MIC which is a version of the Mk. IV, still covered in stockinette but with the protrusion and a plastic bung clamped in place. Will try and upload some photos together when I can take them in daylight.

Quite heavily modified, perhaps.

Just thought I'd share some photos from a recent small scale Cold War event 'Britain on the Brink' held at Buckminster Primary School, just a one dayer, had a good time I must say, plan is for it to return next year. Our brief covered some basic British kit from late '50s through the '60s. Farted around with the first photo to try and give it a period look.

As I remember this photo is from '69-'70, will double check!

Just another oddity turned up during searches of images of early British Army involvement in Northern Ireland. The leading chap here seems to have a somewhat unusual pack, in contrast to the '58 Pattern packs of the men behind. The flap straps and fittings seem similar to those of the second '44 Pattern haversack but it also seems to have a front and side pouches... Any ideas?

Thanks for the replies chaps, very interesting and sorry for the late reply! I've attached a photo which shows men wearing S6s with a variety of haversacks on the chest, apparently some Mk. VII some LAGR, I cannot get my head around the use of the LAGR haversack, as you say it's not exactly an easy fit for the S6... :confused:

I've been perusing various photographs of early British involvement in Northern Ireland and whilst doing so I noticed that S6 respirators seem to have been issued with a miscellaneous variety of haversacks including the Mk. VII, LAGR haversack and the Mk. 1 S6 haversack. As the latter has been in production for several years by 1969 can anyone shed any light on the reasons behind this mix? Short supply? I can imagine the newest kit probably went to BAOR troops as that was the most likely NBC battlefield...

Very interesting Rog, thank you for sharing. If I understand right what you're saying is on the first boots you worked with the heel of the soft uppers eventually worked its way off the tougher sole, despite the lacing and ended up contacting the ground? I can imagine the heel of the boot within easily tearing through in such a situation. Was the company Leyland and Birmingham Rubber? I'm guessing this is what led to the fish tail heel in the Mk. 3 where there are two holes on each side of a fish tail-shaped section of sole which raps up around the heel which I imagine would be effective in preventing the heel of the uppers slipping off the tougher sole material.

Speaking of boots, I'd be interested, what are the differences regarding the Mk. 1 boots compared to the Mk. 2, the earliest I have seen examples of. I'm guessing they were introduced roughly consistently with new marks of suits? I've also not seen inner or outer gloves designated with different marks of development, so again I assume the design remained fairly constant from the introduction of NBC kit? Any info much appreciated!

Not at all Rog, very interesting, the production of kit is often overlooked! Edit; removed PDF link, the book has had much original information removed.

Thank you very much for all the info Clive, very much appreciated. And thanks Edward, will drop you a PM, only have a CB suit hood at present, sadly unpackaged.

Thanks for that, no worries on the stowage for the Mk. 2 haversack, I have a copy of Survive to Fight from '83 which covers this but the earlier haversack has reduced space, a lot of this kit would not fit so I'm interested in what specifically was carried early on. I'm guessing it was probably just DKP1 and 2 and maybe a book of detector paper but I'm not certain.

Hi Chaps, I've fairly recently started collecting NBC kit and basically keen to learn more about when various components of the clothing and accoutrements were introduced. I know this is a slightly nebulous subject and I could easily fill a post with direct questions but I was hoping someone could advise me of any literature or online resources covering NBC kit and particularly dates of introduction of various marks of kit. http://www.crusader80.co.uk/nbc.html gives some information but I am keen to learn more. I did search the forum but found nothing, happy to be linked to anything I have missed! Specifically interested in the period from introduction up to the 1980s. One direct question I will ask regards the canvas S6 respirator haversack; as well as the loop for the anti-dimming outfit there are two small pockets sewn inside the front face, one inside the other. Can anyone tell me what parts of the NBC accoutrements these pockets were intended to carry?

Thanks for this informative thread, very useful, not sure how early you are taking this but I've included some from my collection here. Jacket, Bush, (S.C.C. 19) Green. 1947; 6/CLO/N812/7 Trousers Protective N.B.C. No. 1 Mk. 2. 1971 (Packed Mar 1972); A/78/CLO/34433/DC69(3) Gloves Inner (For Use With Gloves NBC). Packed Dec 1976; A/78/CLO/50168/CB(CT)2B Gloves Protective NBC (Outer). Packed Jan 1979 (1978, 8 crossed out, 9 written in); A/78/CLO/53062/CB(CT)2A Overboots N.B.C. No.1 Mk. 3 (Fishtail). Packed Feb 1980; CT 2A/237

Too used to picking bits out of piles at shows I guess! :undecided: Glad to hear you guys think it was reasonable.