wdbikemad

Can't see the saddle nose bracket (on the frame) but if vertical (not "banana" shaped) this is an ex-WD Flea.......... I note that it is still fitted with folding footrests and the Miller 7" lamp, all WD fittings, although in fairness some early civvy manufacture did still feature these to use up stock......... Any idea on the frame number ? (stamped on the headstock).........

I have had a few in the past......blue-grey barathea BD specifically for aircrew, 1950s era, and it was an issue item rather than privately tailored. From memory, the blouse was zipped...? (not to be confused with the latter 70s zip-fronted jacket)........

Think you may be correct here......:-) The 50s also saw the aircrew-specific BD style garments if I recall, not the same as the general issue serge type......?

My trial nylon 58 belt was found at Du Bora's in Aldershot a couple of years ago now........ The rest of the items were sourced from Silverman's in London at (for them) a very reasonable £15 per item......all used except for the yoke which is new..........seems they bought up most of the trial stock and still have this available now......look on their website, use the drop-down menu on each item, and it is still there.......this gear is genuine and far rarer than the earlier "72 pattern"......... Appreciate your eyes kept open for a second poncho roll !!! Silverman's have none of these, nor packs or waterbottle pouches, but do have the yokes, kidney pouches, ammo pouches and (apparently) belts too.......

And another trial set of 1958 webbing kidney pouches in nylon, here sadly cut in half (!!!! - lol), undated but definitely trial issue and almost new........thanks to my mate Gary for these......circa 1977........

Here's some more nylon MK2 1958 web equipment including another rare image of the set being worn in field trials......we are looking at 1977 - 78 here...........most of the kit shown dated 1977.........

Damn.....you have the nylon poncho roll I seek !!!!! But the waterbottle carrier is wrong, sorry......... There was a 58 pattern belt in nylon........... Also a large pack........ I still seek the pack, poncho roll and waterbottle carrier and my "MK2" 58 set in nylon is complete....lol

Yep, RAF groundcrew issue, circa 1950s/60s and rare today.......

RAF Aircrew parka for extreme cold weather.......1960s - 70s issue.........I had one issued for Canada in '83 !!!! It was made at least 10 years earlier.........

Want it Gary !!!! lol PS - thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome to Mrs M and me at War & Revival.......I owe you a beer and/or coffee or three !! :-) Vidya say's a big thank you and hello !!! We need to liaise at the forthcoming Dallas event..........!!!! Much kit to be discussed methinks.......

Jason is again correct.....these are the 1950s pattern army issue combat cap, developed in the late 1940s and made from double-thickness proofed cotton gabardine........this cap remained unchanged from trial through to the early 1970s when replaced by the DPM combat cap from 1972 onward...........most production appears to be from the early 1950s with little if any latter manufacture........uncommon today in large sizes but smaller sizes (below a 7) still fairly easy (and cheap) to source........ Only ever made in olive drab, the RAF had their own pattern (for aircrew) that is different and made (initially) in blue-grey, latter green and in production up to the 1970s...... Manufacturers details, dates and sizing are beneath the oilcloth crown shield......either printed onto the inner of the cap fabric or on a paper label.............

Jason is correct in his observations.......the parka (aircrew type at least) continued in manufacture (in green) well into the 1970s..........intended for areas such as Goose bay, etc, but latterly supeceded by the shorter Canadian pattern from the late 60s....... Again, welcome on board and thanks for sharing some superb items........:-)

Rare as rocking horse.......as Jason remarks, I take my hat off to you........thank you for sharing.....

I'd agree with the ex-AD association Harry..... Bet the additional pockets were for knives, etc, necessary for rigging lines and 'chute strops...........many AD personnel wore Denisons, later the DPM para smock, usually with the yellow/blue "Dakota" flashes at the top of the sleeves............I have fond memories of 47AD TP RCT (based at Lyneham) and 395AD (V) TP based in Swindon......... In my humble opinion the best way to modify a "84" pattern smock is to get a 68 pattern.......lol

From memory, the RAF post-war BD blouses were always lined...........typical "blue jobs" over-engineering.....

I suspect that this tiny BD blouse was made specifically for the ACF/CCF.......... They were still using BD during the early 1970s before going over to the woolly pully and cadet-pattern DPM trousers..... And there were, from memory, some VERY small cadets !!!! BD as a whole was largely dropped by the regular Army from 1963 onward when the new combat dress (1960 pattern) and No.2 dress uniforms, among others, began to be issued, although production continued for a while to maintain stocks for those still issued with BD...........the presence of a NSN would suggest post-1966 manufacture, and I suspect this one to be very late, possibly one of the last made (for cadets) around 1970-72 ? Air Cadets (ATC) were still using RAF pattern BD up to 1977-78 in some units, the RAF itself dropping BD around 1972-74 when the (hated) zip-fronted barathea No.2 dress jacket was introduced (most chose to wear the pully instead).......ATC generally used small-sized RAF mens BD but again some late manufacture continued in tiny sizes to meet the demand from rather small cadets....... Interestingly,Wm (William) Brownlee were also involved in the production of early 80s DPM 1968 pattern combat smocks and trousers and are one of the less common manufacturers encountered on garment labels today.......the company are listed as being set-up in Jan 1981, and now dissolved............but as this blouse highly likely dates from possibly 10 years earlier it may be that the company were previously in existence then, dissolved or taken over and re-opened before closing again...???? The "A/78" (etc) contract number is generally found on late-1960s/early 1970s garments only........

It's Indian-made on account of the markings and buttons, though definitely WW2.......years ago there were a few of these around, plus trousers too....... Theories are that they were either work clothing or for POW's, but on account of the black-inset patch I would be inclined to go for the latter......

Hi John, I managed to get a couple of these from a reclusive and hard-to-deal-with collector..........one I'm keeping, the other has gone to my mate Jason (a long-standing friend and first in-line for this)........ Not sure If I can get any more. I may be able to source another WW2 denim version, plus may have a white version (snow-smock) coming, but either way these things are like hens teeth today and extremely hard to source and never cheap.......!!!!

Nice smock and size John ! I have an identical one to this (same contract) but a Size 3.........these were made up to a Size 8, two width fittings per height (eg - 1 & 2 one height range, 3 & 4 next height range, etc).......all made in heavyweight satin-backed cotton-drill......... First made in DPM during 1971, replaced during 1975-76 by the more modern cotton-gabardine "SAS" windproof......... The green version that preceded this in olive drab cotton-gabardine was made from 1964 to 1970........still "1963 pattern" that basically incorporated a factory-fitted full frontal zipper compared to the "pullover" style wartime version........ Try finding matching trousers for either of the above !!! Same as the original wartime style........:-D

The Author(s) are quite clear (within the book) that the work is only a starting point and doesn't claim to be a definitive work......!!! Read it again and you will find the relevant disclaimer......I did !! :-D But, it's better than anything to date, the illustrations are superb, the text 90% accurate and a great starting point for further debate...... My forthcoming book will include the Denison, and will add additional info located but not included in this title........I have found much info regarding the post-war "battle" to retain the Denison against the official side's position to replace it with standard combat dress.......and yes, this was buried within the National Archives.....:-D But, having been researching my own book for the last numerous years (on general British post-war combat dress plus specialist items) a lot of info just simply cannot be found today......it may well exist, but there is a limit to how much time and effort you input into finding the smallest elusive fact......as with all books, I will never claim that mine is the definitive tome, but it will hopefully be better than what we have within one resource to date............. And I expect the same degree of constructive criticism !!!! No prisoners !!!!! lol :-D

I can't be certain, but the last-ever generation of DPM combat smocks were almost a copy of the old arctic windproof but in a poly-cotton fabric, slotted buttons and velcro patch attachments on the upper arms.....almost a DPM version of the first generation MTP smocks in fact......these DPM smocks brought together many of the best features from years of development but it seems that issues weren't widespread before MTP came on line.......I saw some in use by RLC recruits only a couple of years ago and I'm wondering if the garments continued in production for largely field training before troops were deployed in either desert or awaiting/issued with the new MTP, hence marked "training use only"...? Earlier manufacture doesn't feature such a label thus was clearly intended for field use but I'm wondering if late production continued in DPM alongside MTP whilst stocks of the latter were accumulated for wear in pre-deployment training ? Just a theory and I don't know the correct answer.......

Hi Ferg, we will be there between Weds and Fri as day visitors......no bike tho...! But, as a founder member of the NOBS from 12 years ago I expect honourary treatment.....lol :-D

Got my complimentary copy today...... It's a brilliant piece of work......... My forthcoming book will be in a similar format and will include additional para smock info not included in this book......sadly, our combined info didn't come together before publication..........:embarrassed: I am in early discussion with the publisher............they may well be issuing my forthcoming book if things work out........general issue combat clothing from the end of WW2 to the demise of DPM....plus cold weather and specialist kit too..........

Should be BSP, but also maybe Whitworth.....?

New on me too Jason !!! Internet search says they were established in the UK in 1927 as a manufacturer of women's outerwear.......lol :-D