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43rdrecce

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Posts posted by 43rdrecce

  1. I'm tempted by a different camoflage scheme as there's a lot of mickey mouse around, but I'm going to take a look at the photo's down there, and I'll probably put the same markings back on :)

     

    Excellent news. Mind you a halved green and blue square with a 41 always looks good in my opinion.....but glad the wyvern is staying!

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

  2. Rick,

     

    If you can get a few more photos I can have a go with some groovy software I've got on my puta.

     

    Just had a look at your existing shots and I agree with Adrian its definitely 2427 for the last four digits. Been playing around with colour filters and curves and it looks to me like T132427 Does that make any sense Adrian?

     

    I'll have another go with your next pics. Seems to be a Red White Red flash bordered in white above the T number too.

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

     

     

    ColourpullNEF.jpg

  3. Thanks Richard,

     

    From the photos I've seen the toothed buckles would seem to be the factory fit. No doubt poor durability was the reason they were replaced later on with the nickel plated type. I doubt this was done completely, other than for repairs, until the postwar period though.

    I understand that both types were manufactured by Roko, and they had the patent for the 'c' end tags, which also seem to suffer with corrosion.

    Difficult one really, to be accurate means using this type with all the inherent problems! The correct khaki webbing in 1 1/4" width can be found as it is the width used for US Army trouser belts. The bit I've struggled with is the hardware which doesn't appear to be obtainable.

     

    Regards

     

    Paul

  4. Thanks Richard,

     

    I should pay attention! I know that some of the earlier Fords had leather straps. I had a very original but knackered 1941 canvas for a WOT2 when I had my WOTs. This was all leather fitted and I've heard from other WOT owners that some of the earlier vehicles were so fitted.

    Have you seen those toothed buckles on other Daimlers? They were certainly fitted on the earliest ACs and I've removed some very tatty examples from several hulks. I've struggled to find nos examples. As I've said in earlier posts I have quite a few of the other Roko buckles and in fact these are still commonly used on saddlery though they seem to be chrome or nickel plated nowadays.

     

    I believe the Dingo also originally had these 1 1/4" toothed buckles and stowage straps.

     

    Regards

     

    Paul

  5. Thanks for posting Ooh tricky one that. To me they look like leather straps! I think I can just see the prong of a standard buckle. Difficult to be sure. Any chance of a clearer image? They also seem to me to have pointed ends. Does anyone have a Bedford parts list that would confirm?

     

    Both leather and sometimes even bonded rubber straps were used on early WW2 British vehicles but as shortages of these materials occurred they were replaced with cheaper webbing alternatives. Rubber was used on early Daimlers too, the crew water bottle straps and the stowage for the Hellesen lamp are shown in the parts list as alternative early rubber parts.

     

    Can anyone contribute confirmation of types for the main vehicle manufacturers?

     

    To return to Jules's original question, the Humber armoured cars used standard Mills type webbing straps judging by the wartime stowage diagrams I have for the Humber III & IV armoured cars. Maybe this applied to all of Humber's production?

     

    Regards

     

    Paul

  6. Yes I saw those on eBay. They may well be a wartime pattern, certainly that's what the seller was claiming. I haven't come across these as original fittings as all the ones I have seen are fitted to green post war replacement straps. The 1" size are a lot easier to find and I have this simpler type NOS.

    Does anyone have a wartime photo of this type in use? It would certainly make my life easier as I have these in quantity and in the 1 1/4" size too. They are not the type shown in the parts list for the Daimler or the Valentine as the drawings show the sliding toothed type.

     

    Regards

     

    Paul

  7. Roko 1 1/4" tension buckle and 'c' end tag original type used on early Daimlers, Valentines etc

     

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1337958246.867858.jpg

     

    Post war 1" simplified version again with the c tag. This type again used on the Daimler and other vehicles

     

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1337958644.558680.jpg

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

  8. 'Roko' is the type of tension buckle used on many WW2 British vehicles. These had the distinctive 'C' end tip to the web straps. I believe .they were also used on US personal equipment though of a different pattern.

    I have been looking for NOS examples for ages. There is a modern version of the Roko buckle, but it is much simpler than the WW2 type. I'll post a couple of photos of examples from my Daimler. Many British tanks had these Roko fittings.

    I have a collection of crabby originals removed from my Daimler and other WW2 vehicles but have struggled to find replacements.

     

    Some of the early WW2 Fordson WOT 15cwts had leather straps on the canvas. These started to be replaced by the end of the war and wholesale after the war when the standard 'Mills' webbing buckles and end tags became the norm.

     

    Regards

     

    Paul

  9. Could anyone confirm these part numbers for me please. I have what I think is a Dingo vision block, but was it used on any other vehicles? It has the number TL 3195 on both face plates and TL 3193 on the block frame itself. The glass has the number TL 3502 but this is indistinct and I may be reading it incorrectly.

     

    Manufacturer is MEL Co.

     

    Thanks

     

    Paul

  10. I posted these photos in an earlier thread on 10 man packs but here they are again for your culinary enjoyment! I bought two them, badly listed on eBay for 99p each! Not only that the seller was only a few miles from me so no postage either. Both boxes date to 1974.

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

     

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357680.530644.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357712.052010.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357747.080760.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357763.414274.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357785.149140.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357803.002276.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336357819.276304.jpg

  11. Been away for a few days upside down in the depths of my Daimler and have just picked up this thread.

     

    The original stiffened Service Dress Cap was introduced in 1905. At the start of the Great War it quickly became apparent that the rigid tops of these caps were very visible in sunlight and were instantly recognisable to Harry Hun. The first action taken by the men themselves was to remove the wire stiffeners to reduce the effects.

    By early 1915 orders began to be issued sanctioning this practice culminating in a GRO (General Routine Order) of June 1915 officially ordering the removal of the wire stiffener and the upright crown support from Service Dress caps.

     

    Steel shrapnel helmets were introduced progressively from November 1915 and by March of 1916 were intended for universal issue. Up to that point they had been regarded as 'Trench stores' and had been handed over from unit to unit in the trenches. Universal issue was finally achieved by the time of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

    As soon as the shrapnel helmet was introduced it became obvious that there was a need for a 'soft' cap that could be stored away when not in use.

    The soft pattern serge Service Dress cap was introduced in March 1916, though there was an earlier 'soft' cap the Winter Service Dress Cap. This is the familiar Gor Blimey padded wool cap which was introduced from November 1914 and fell out of use by the early part of 1917. Note that these were solely intended for winter use and were not seen as replacements for the original 1905 cap.

     

    There was little change to the 1916 soft serge cap until the early 1920s when a slightly revised pattern was adopted. Interesting that this modified pattern, complete with the lines of stitch reinforcing across the peak, was retained by the Brigade of Guards until the end of WW2.

     

    Reference the original query, in early 1918 the 1916 pattern soft cap began to be manufactured in a khaki gabardine material. Slight variation of the linings exist with American cloth, khaki cotton drill, white cotton drill and occasionally flannel being used for the headlining and sweatbands. This khaki gabardine has a distinctive twilling to the fabric. It proved to be not especially hard wearing and though proofed was rain resistant rather than waterproof.

     

    Ventilators, chinstraps and buttons were unchanged on both these wartime variations (1916 and 1918 patterns) The later gabardine caps are sometimes incorrectly referred to as '1917 pattern' mainly by militaria dealers. At the time uniforms and caps were officially known by the manufacturing pattern number and were not named '1916 pattern' by the military. These pattern numbers were printed on the paper clothing labels (usually a four digit number) but these pattern numbers are not seen on paper cap labels which usually contain only the size, manufacturers name and date of manufacture. Often these details were stamped on the lining of the cap in white marking paint along with a War Office inspectors number stamp.

     

    Please note this is just a potted history but the dates of introduction are correct.

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

  12. Mine is the cap badge of the Reconnaissance Corps. My vehicles are painted to represent those used by the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment, the Recce Regiment of the 43rd Wessex Division, part of the BLA in NW Europe 1944-45.

    The patron of our vehicle group is Brigadier Frank Henn, now 91 but still active in efforts to remember the achievements of the Regiment and the Division. Brigadier Henn, a Dunkirk veteran, was a Major and Squadron Leader in 43rd Recce Regiment and is their senior surviving Officer.

    Sadly both the 43rd Recce Regiment OCA and the 43rd Divisional Association disbanded last year due to the increasing age of the membership. The latter Association has reformed as a charitable trust. As a former committee member of the Div Association I am now a trustee of the new trust, activities I have been privileged to have been a part of for the last decade.

     

    Now is the time to make an extra effort to record and honour the sacrifices and achievements of the WW2 servicemen and women before it is too late. Find the veteran users of your vehicles and quiz them, they usually enjoy it!

     

    (steps off soapbox!)

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

  13. That's a damn fine example ! Am I right in mentioning that the issue helmet covers are made from lightweight "tropical" type DPM material...?

     

    certainly seems to be the case with this one. Close up of the label

     

    cheers

     

    Paul

     

    cover.jpg

  14. Attached is a photo of a pattern of suit I am not familiar with. I have one of these one piece overalls. It is made from the same mackintosh fabric as the well known motorcycle garments. Single full length zip fastener, single chest pocket and two map type pockets on the legs as per this photo. Button fastening to both cuffs and ankles. The legs have a split at the ankle to allow the overall to be pulled on over boots. There is a small stand collar ie no fold over.

     

    tanksuit.jpg

     

    Any ideas? Is it an M/C garment acquired by this Recce vehicle crewman? Or is it an early attempt at a tanksuit? I would imagine a bit sticky to wear over battledress as it's heavy proofed material.

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

  15. Thought you might like to see this tin hat which I've had in my collection since 1982. This came via one of my brother's shipmates. They both served on HMS Fearless during the conflict and the helmet was one of those used on board.

     

    The cam net always made me smile. I assume it was added to make the wearer look a little more 'war-ry' I wonder what you would use as garnish on one of HM warships? bits of grey painted steel?? Nevertheless a nice item and like most of my Falklands kit has seldom seen the light of day since I acquired it. This was one of the items I lent to the IWM in 1992 for their 10th Anniversary exhibition. Blimey doesn't time fly.

     

    Cheers

     

    Paul

     

    ps Dated 1952, size 7, liner manufacturer FFL

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