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H E Textiles (of Newcastle) received a massive order for combat clothing during the early 1980's (I have the article somewhere).......evidence suggests that this was for para smocks, SAS & arctic windproof smocks and trousers, and sniper smocks rather than standard 68 pattern clothing.....I have none of the latter in the collection......but several of the former !

We recently discovered via Forum members that the '63 pattern windproof smock and trousers were originally produced in olive drab windproof gaberdine (the '63 designation referring to the official full-zip front to the smock, introduced circa 1964-65), followed by the DPM model in heavyweight cotton-sateen from 1970 to around 1975........sizes ran from 1 to 9 and both suits carried the same NATO stock numbers (the DPM replacing the green around 1970).......both suits are rather rare and valuable today, especially the green version (not to be confused with the wartime green-drab pullover smock made from green denim fabric).....condition and size will also affect the value....but you are looking at a minimum for at least £80 + for a smock alone nowadays........ The WW2 style windproof in the older "Denison" camouflage was never officially made in the full-zip style, although photos prove that many wartime and 50's dated examples were converted (in some cases officially) to the full-zip style.......It was officially replaced when the green 1963 pattern suit appeared in the mid-1960s, although again as photos prove the older cammo style remained in service with the SAS, SBS and RM until at least the late-1970's when the DPM 63 pattern suit took over (itself being replaced from 1975 onwards by the later DPM SAS windproofs but reverting to gaberdine fabric.....)............:-)

There was also a sort of hood-thing, which may have been part of the water (ocean) ditching kit........this was a pullover hood that covered the shoulder area, made of green nylon and lined in a form of thin nylon "warm" fabric......it was good underneath me bike helmet back in the '80s....:-)

Non-fast jet crews (eg Hercules) were not supplied with bonedomes (no ejector seats) thus it was a case of flying clothing being designed to meet the majority of potential situations, such as a lack of protective headgear in the event of a survival situation........the old cotton F & G models of flying helmet in grey or green were rarely seen in use by aircrew after the 1960's, crews nowadays preferring a simple headset worn on the head........ During the 1950's there did exist a peaked ski-type cap in grey gaberdine lined in wool with inner earflaps and chinstrap.....these were part of the aircrew cold-weather survival suit (MK1) of that era but it seems that the cap did not survive in use into the 1960s.....

Fuel tap is a common Enots/Ewarts type found on many other British motorcycles of the period (I have spares if you need ?)...........I have also heard that the fuel pump parts are near-identical to those used on wartime and post-war British military "tilly" camping lanterns......???!

The green and DPM suits were also intended for aircrew survival situations, hence the hoods on both examples (due to the flying helmet and/or bonedome generally being discarded) and the provision for a scarf on the green jacket stowed in the collar......additional items supplied along with the MK3 suit was a set of green nylon waterproofs (jacket and trousers) and a cold-weather liner (sleeveless quilted waistcoat)..... Most aircrew survival exercises on Dartmoor usually see crews dressed in MK3 garments, or occasionally the DPM suit....

You can sometimes find both green and DPM flying jackets with a series of 3 pairs of press fasteners fitted at the front of the chest area........this was a largely RAF local modification for oxygen equipment and/or comms equipment to be clipped securely against the body. The job was usually carried out by the survival equipment section on base....... Other mods, especially on the earlier jackets with the older sleeve pen-pocket arrangement (fitted with a slip-in spring assembly to secure pens, pencils, etc) was to cover the entire pocket with a patch that could be opened by means of velcro fitted on two sides, to prevent loss of items when inverted.......mind you, if this occured in a helicopter you would be a tad worried.... (and not about the potential loss of your favourite chinagraph.....)

The crossover trousers in sand were a standard general issue item for the Middle East and specific other areas. Made from sand-colour khaki drill cotton, they were not a windproof or SAS trouser and resembled the similar version in jungle green for Far East usage........however, some of the khaki versions lack the rear pockets and the large left leg pocket (though not all).....

In the RAF, the DPM aircrew suit was popular amongst Hercules crew and helicopter units....but it was rarely seen elsewhere......most other aircrew staying firmly away from anything remotely "pongo".....:-D

Yep, the very ones ! Made from 1975 to around 2004-5....not bad for a 30 year service life !!! These were SAS issue, for use with the non-wired hood, no rank tab DPM windproof smocks.... Although the arctic smock is very similar to the SAS variety, the arctic windproof trouser is a completely different animal with no similarities other than the cotton-gabardine fabric....(they're also very generously cut !! Designed for wear over the quilted nylon "Chinese fighting suit" extreme cold weather trouser liner)....:-)

I'm always amazed that the SAS windproof trousers, styled on the 1950 pattern OG jungle strides with the horrendously uncomfortable side-buckle waist fastening (if worn with webbing on top) lasted unmodified into the mid-2000's....... That said, the overall fitting was far better than many other combat pants.......mind you, the arctic windproof trousers weren't all that bad either..... Dave is right....those being sold now via surplus are the last stocks of decent sizes left on the market....these were released around 3-4 years ago now so, to quote, "buy now" (whilst you still can)..........

I have a similar early issue DPM "SAS" windproof smock in almost mint condition in a Size 3, which fits me well if a tad short in the body......I bought it at Beltring about 3 years ago now for only £12.....it was on a stall set away from the main lines, mixed in with all the tat and non-military stuff......at the same show I also managed to find a mint pair of early arctic windproof trousers in a Size 5 for a reasonable £10...... I have two new late-manufacture SAS windproof smocks, one a 170/96 and the other a 190/112......plus about 4 pairs of trousers with the buckle waist fastening, all new and good sizes.......and a couple of arctic smocks too....

Jason, the 1986 edition of the Army QM catalogue (section CG - Combat Clothing) lists the "SAS" windproof....it is described as "Smock, Combat, Cotton, DPM" and the detail states "SAS; not for general issue; used with Trousers, Combat 8415-99-138-0797 to 0809".......... The sizes are now "Metric" rather than numbered, but the NSN's run from 8415-99-132-3951 NATO Size 5060/8590 to fit height 150 - 160cm and chest 82 - 88cm (the old Size 01) through to NSN 8415-99-132-3963 NATO Size 8090/1520 to fit height 180 - 190cm and chest 114 to 120cm (the old Size 9). There is an additional "Special" size listed with NSN 8415-99-132-3964......this suggests a size range from "04" through to "9" (plus "special")....... The SAS Smock dates from 1975, followed by the similar Arctic Windproof suit around 1976-77........all of these, along with the DPM Para Smock AND the Sniper Smock were all supplied in the old 01 to 04 sizes (or later metric equivalents) according to the lists........ The other "0" sizes up to 09 were originally Gurkha sizes supplied for 68 pattern suit production but dropped around the mid-1970s to just 01 to 04 as the full small size range had been found unnecessary.....the sizes 01 to 04 were still issued for Gurkhas, female and unusually small individuals (just like 'er indoors, who's only 4'10" against my 6'3" !!! Guess who's boss though...!!!!)

Good luck with the restoration ! Just as difficult is the wartime "Flying Flea" ! I've had two of these, and parts are just as frustrating !!!! Steve (co-author "British Forces Motorcycles")....

Nice project....have you got Peter Miller's book "From Welbike to Corgi" (2nd edition is best) ? This contains a wealth of info on these bikes, even showing copies of the original WD contract build cards........I haven't got my copy to hand but I suspect the build date to be 1943-44.....(the cards show the contract ordering dates I think).......if you know the frame number which should be on the front of the frame headstock you can work out the original WD serial number allocated to your bike........ There was apparently a 4th contract for these bikes but it was cancelled due to a lack of need for these.......a good original idea, the reality was that the little Welbike was rarely used in combat or for the role originally intended.....the bulk of machines actually used in combat and service originating from the first contract........this was the model with the earlier fuel tanks, no rear mudguard and slight differences to the frame......many of the later machines were purloined as runabouts within the military and an even greater number sat unused in ordnance depots until the end of the war....You can obtain (at a price) most of the reproduction cycle parts for the Welbike, although wheels are a persistent problem to acquire. Very early post-war Corgi wheels are similar before going over to the solid non-spoked variety.....engine parts are still fairly easy to obtain, new and 2nd-hand, and I am sure I still have several spare gasket sets for the engine buried somewhere.... Your machine MAY have left the factory in "SCC No2" colour, which is a sort of medium brown shade used on many British military vehicles and equipment between 1942 and April 1944 before switching back to green (British olive drab), although stocks of earlier shades had to be used up first.......if you check the frame closely you may find traces of the original paint shade (say beneath the contract plate or on the engine, which was factory-painted)......? The military Villiers Junior De-Luxe engine is pretty much standard in design although was factory-built with greater clearances than normal in order that it could be hammered from new ! I seem to recall that the compression ratio may also be higher on the WD version.....? I had a welbike myself a few years back now that I bought for £150 in bits as a "post war Corgi"......it had come from the Middle East and was from the first contract......it was missing the wheels, saddle and mount, one side of the handlebar plus the exhaust system but was otherwise complete. I had a spare engine and fuel tanks thrown in with the deal......I never got round to doing anything with the project so sold it on, although at a slightly greater price than I had originally paid !!!

It was never "issue" Tony !!! But could be obtained for numerous hard-earned beer tokens ...... Barbour however, DID provide issue of some of their products to the MoD.....a prime example is the waxed cotton "International" motorcycle jacket and trousers in brown........I actually have a suit (that fits me !) in near new condition hanging up somewhere, complete with the NSN labels........they're no longer issued but were a fine garment made up in the traditional style of those garments....you can still occasionally find NOS examples at military shows, Fleabay, etc, but generally at inflated prices and micro-sizes.........mine lives outside the house...the stench it gives off after all these years is rather unappealing to " 'er indoors" for some strange reason........:red:

The chocolate-brown colour may be the earlier.....it is commonly encountered on 1942-era webbing equipment, such as battle jerkins, skeleton vests, bren gun holdalls, etc, so the same theory may apply to tents, etc...... I had a 2-man British tent a few years ago now that was made in a cammo pattern material.......the base colour was green with brown cammo patterning printed on top (very irregular in pattern and unlike the other patterns found on Denisons, etc)............

The Barbour jacket was a favoured private purchase item for troops in Northern Ireland during the 1970's and early 1980's where it was found to be far more practical and tear-resistant when crawling through thorny hedgerows on the border than the issue green and DPM nylon "crisp packet" waterproofs.........several period photos show the Barbour in use by patrols......it is highly likely that a number of troops individually "modified" theirs, such as adding pockets, holsters, etc... Barbour apparently made a DPM version of their waxed jacket no doubt intended for such unofficial use by troops, and it is a rare item today.....I have seen one or two on Ebay...

The WW1 and WW2 soup bowl-shaped helmet shells were all one size........the WW2 liners were made up to size 7 & 3/4........ According to official sources, the very large sizes (7 & 1/2 upwards) lacked some or all of the rubber buffers.....I fear that the repro liners are made to the standard size wartime spec rather than accomodating the larger sizes....so a little personal modification methinks.... Don't worry too much about the liner protruding beneath the helmet body....I have large-size originals that do the same.....a flush-fitting was only achieved in the smaller sizes.... Para, DR & RAC pattern helmet shells were made in 2 sizes, the larger shell for sizes above 7 & 1/2....:-)

Why did they make 'em so big ????!!! I once went into stores and had the rare opportunity of not being shown the exit before I'd actually entered.....and tried on a set of 68 pattern combats in my actual size measurements (back then) according to the sizing charts (a 7)......needless to say the suit was bloody enormous.....the trousers and smock were so long I didn't need to wear boots or gloves...... I ended up wearing a size 4 outfit that fitted me well.....though nowadays I seem to have migrated up to a 6 ! This sort-of explains why the vast majority of troops seem to have worn the smaller sizes (1 to 6) with the larger sizes almost redundant. You would think that there would be shed-loads of NOS sizes 7 to 9 out there and whilst some dealers do have stocks of NOS large sizes the volume isn't massive.....and when you do find 'em NOS most trousers and smocks appear to be of the older 68 original issue rather than the later issues from the late 1970's through to 84......in fact, I think I've only ever seen one suit of the later 68 pattern in a size 9.....suggesting that later production was perhaps rather limited....?

I would suggest WW2.....tropical garment.....probably Indian manufacture...... Are the buttons rubber ? Common for Far Eastern garments.........the pullover style was in the process of replacement throughout the British and Indian armies by 1944, as was the attached collar style replacing the earlier collarless variety........ Many British troops in the Far East used Indian-made garments as easier to source/supply....hence the British RASC markings............

Book will have tons of photos......but it will probably take a week just to get through everything and another couple for the editing !!!

Only the OG shirt, Dave....everything else is good sizes...in particular the tank crew coverall being an impressive size 6 !

I am the worst offender for not posting piccies...... Now, excluding tropical DPM.....can we perhaps have some shots or descriptions of DPM temperate clothing that you may have/have seen that are in some extreme colour shades...??? During the early 1980's, one guy in my unit was issued with a late-pattern 68 smock where the brown & green colours were very dark, but the base colour (the khaki) was very pale, almost magnolia in colour..........another guy had a smock where the base colour was almost yellow........and another few guys had smocks issued where the brown was a very red tint........... It's often thought that the biggest shade variations affected early DPM fabric...but in my experience this persisted into the 1980's.......it was like train spotting, without the anorak, notebook and sandwich box....:-)

I fear the end is nigh !!!! I have it on good authority that the rummage emporium will cease to exist by the end of 2013.....in 2 years and 3 months.......basically Nick is retiring, hoping to sell the business on as a going concern but the rabbit-warren that is the current premises will be sold for non-militaria purposes.......in other words, the end of an era and quite probably the loss of one of the last great "old style" army surplus sources....... So.....get along there whilst you still can !!! Take a torch, old clothes, a "wants" list and give yourself a good 6 hours without "'er indoors"...........!!!!! Time and time again, I have gone along there with lots of expectations but facing the reality that all the "finds" have long-gone, yet every single time I manage to find a small gem or two that makes the trip worthwhile.... I went along recently on a rare day off......what did I find...? 1. A first pattern NI-issue green nylon waterproof smock from the early 1970's....same as the later DPM "crisp-packet" but in green !!!! Newey press-fasteners, et-all.... 2. A 1970's green nylon tank crew waterproof coverall in a size 6 in mint condition, Newey fasteners, etc... 3. A 1970's Royal navy issue nylon MK3 waterproof smock (the one with the peaked hood with buckle adjusters) but in green rather than the commonly-found blue...... 4. A mint set of the 1970's DPM "crisp-packet" nylon waterproof smock and trousers......... 5. A 1968 pattern olive woolly pully in a size 2 with denim patches and no eppaulettes in great condition..... 6. An early 1st pattern DPM GS MK6 helmet cover with the horizontal cammo loops only.... 7. A mint size 2 green KF shirt from the late 70s/early 80s...... 8. A used (but good) pre-65 44 pattern small pack........ Plus lots more.....and no, NO PHOTOS at present, but if I can get some done before things are buried again then I will try my best.........!