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The older 1968 Pattern smock was produced (initially) in a full size range from 01 to 09 for Gurkha troops (as was the 60 pattern before it), the garments having the prefix "G" (for Gurkha) in front of the sizing number and a different NSN range too........trousers also manufactured in Gurkha sizes.............. But, by the late 1970s the old Gurkha range was discontinued as unnecessary, although the previous Gurkha size range of 01 to 04 was retained, no doubt to continue issue to some Gurkha's and WRAC whom were by then also issued with DPM......... The smock shown looks to be a later issue on account of the labeling and colour print, zipper, etc, so not a true "Gurkha" intended item here.......

Mark, always welcome mate, and happy to assist.....:-)

The "ST1A" below the sizing is the contract number...........genuine issue.......... No evidence of special forces issue though.........just another improvement/advancement in the issue kit of the time in my humble opinion............

No MoD contract number on label always makes me suspicious...........

Here's my SMLE MK III...........Enfield made and dated 1910 with the "ER" cypher for King Edward 7th............ No butt-disc at all, and likely upgraded over the years, although still has the mag cut-off fitted.............

"NP" on the label is "New Pattern"......you can also find these with "War Service Dress" on the label, even though they aren't.......... This style of blouse came in during 1949................compared to the wartime type it has single-point button-through pocket flaps whereas all wartime examples had concealed buttons and 3-point flaps..............sleeves too, have "pointed" non-buttoning cuffs.......wartime examples all have a cuff with button.............other differences include the fact that wartime examples have a button-up collar with hooks, no lining to the blouse, and a buckle at the waist....................... As for the trousers, these were similar to the WW2 army pattern but lacking the large pocket on the left leg and with the field-dressing pocket on the upper-left front rather than the right.................no waistband either and cut high........

That's interesting ........I had a blouse near-IDENTICAL to this up to June this year.........then sold it at Evesham (War in the Vale) and it HAD a label fitted at that point................1947 Pattern with wide collar............it was unusual in that it was a RPC major with a MiD............I might also add that it had collar badges attached when sold..............I still have pictures of it............when purchased, there were two blouses from the same chap and I bought one.........maybe this is the other one...........!!?

Thanks Edward !! If I want something though, I generally get it !!!!!:-D Luck maybe...........:-\

Hi Jason, hope you are well :-D It was listed on Ebay of all things at a cheap price but wrongly described as a "1960 Pattern"..............only one photo, but I noticed the light-green buttons (always a clue for the earlier types) so put in a sensible bid.........I couldn't tell if it was gabardine or sateen but wasn't too bothered all told - just looked a nice early example ! But when it arrived and I saw it was gabardine I was delighted as been searching for one of these now for a long time......... It's in really good clean condition too, hasn't been washed and a decent size..............another thing ticked off my (very) small list now of things still to acquire............

For what it's worth, not certain if the date stamped under the saddle (on the frame) is the frame build-date rather than the complete bike's build date..........after all, stocks of parts were assembled and built into complete machines at some point thereafter, and that could be months later..........:-|

I have a soft spot for the old DPM Para smock.......... Found another in the stash recently that I'd forgotten about........Size 180/96 so equivalent to the old Size 4...........but roomy as always with these........ Brand-new un-worn......heavyweight satin-backed cotton-drill fabric, beautiful DPM colours and no FFD pocket, metric-sizing dating this between approximately 1981 and 1984........... Unusual maker too, "Dashmoor Clothing"................

The first (production) issue British Army combat smock............ Made between 1951 and 1952 in olive-green wind-proof gabardine fabric and fully-lined in the same cloth...........matching hood too ! Hood sizes later changed from "Small" and "Large" to Size 1 and Size 2........... Issued with matching lined trousers, these first-issue "Korean" combat's were light in weight on account of the gabardine cloth used.......but field use found the fabric not robust enough for extended field use.........so, from 1952 onward a change was made to heavier satin-backed cotton-drill ("Sateen") for the outer and windproof gabardine for the lining.......making for a heavier if more hard-wearing set of garments..........at the same point the trousers had the lining deleted ! But in fairness, they were ideal for summer use and in the winter a set of wool-pile trouser liners could be worn along with long-drawers............ Stocks of the first pattern remained on issue until exhausted........although I've got a few pairs of the early trousers the 1st issue smock in gabardine has eluded me for years............but all comes to he who waits and a mis-described item (listed as "1960 Pattern") on Ebay finally provided me with an example in top-class condition and a good size too.......... These were the fore-runner of the 1960 Pattern, and there are a few differences between the two patterns...............

Entirely correct........metric sizing pre-dated the Falklands by around 1 - 2 years on both windproofs and para smocks although much earlier stock in the old numbered sizing remained..........my unit were still being issued with new old sizing garments up to '85................ FFD pocket not introduced before late-'83 at the earliest................. All this gear was introduced around 1975-76, so plenty of time to accumulate stocks..........

Designed and issued to WRAC for NI duties.....early 70s.........primarily for those accompanying troops on street patrols for searches, etc, and to provide some comfort and weather protection.......... At the time, it was considered inappropriate to clad WRAC in DPM cammo and (probably) if so, more risky...................in time, WRAC were issued DPM although these garments, issued with matching slacks, soldiered on as a general purpose out-door/workwear dress........probably until the early 80s........... Parka shown is probably a rather late issue with metric sizing......I would say around very late 70s/early 80s.........although the liner (issued separately) is in the older and far more common sizing encountered for these garments............ If found today, the majority appear to be new old stock............they were never too popular, and replaced by DPM for operational purposes during the late-1970s..............

Central Wheel Co in the UK were also good in supplying spokes........in general, rears were always a thicker gauge than fronts............ As for tyres, 3.25 was standard for most WD bikes...........only the M20 with WM3 rims used (sometimes) the 3.50 tyres............but there is only 1/4" difference between 3.25 and 3.50 so the difference is negligible.........:-D

I do know that during the early 70s Denison's were in rather short supply due to the MoD's ever-persistent attitude that they were to be replaced with standard DPM combat clothing.........this argument had been going on since the early 1960s when the official side stated that the Denison was to be retained only for training and tropical use...........though clearly this directive was wholly ignored...............if the zip malfunctioned in your smock, then it was standard to get a new one fitted.......same with the cuffs.............it was rare for a new smock to be issued...... According to the scales of issue of the time, airborne troops were issued with two suits of either 1960 pattern Green (or DPM) and then later the 1968 pattern DPM.............only one Denison smock was issued for the purposes noted above............. Doubtless though, many resourceful and veteran troops acquired more than one Denison.............. The DPM para smock first appeared during 1977 and issues were progressive throughout the regular army and then the TA.............there are some odd colour images in the airborne archive taken during the late-1970s that show regulars on exercise with the TA..........the former are in the new DPM smock whereas the latter are still in the Denison....! Changeover was pretty much completed by 1980 however..............I think the last unit wearing Denisons during 81-82 was 395 (V) AD Troop, RCT, and then only by those who still retained them..........

Retirement has seen me busier than ever Edward......don't know how I found the time to work !!!

I have a few ex-MoD "Newey" snap fasteners (type 7/7) as used on the later Denison........nickel finish as opposed to brass (have these too)............wartime and many post-war fasteners were marked "Newey" on the female portion plus the patent number, but on late Denisons (early 70s) this changed to "Newey" and "England" though the rest of the fastener remained the same.............the ones I have are new-old-stock......and marked "Newey" with the patent number......... The ones for sale on Ebay are good but copies and not entirely accurate............. These fasteners are 4-part (two bits for the male and two bits for the female) and are an arse to fit properly.......you need to acquire or make a tool that will insert into the fastener and then once inside spread the end over under pressure without damaging the rest of the component.........arguably however, the male portion is slightly less difficult to fit than the female ! PM me and I can supply the two parts of the missing male component.......... By 1965 the MoD specifications for the Denison refer to "Smock, Camouflage", no reference to Denison or airborne troops anymore............however, I have seen some garments still carrying the earlier designation with later 60s dates...............late Denisons by this time were commonly made by James Smith & Co, H E Textiles, BMC, Cookson and Clegg and F Fryer................. The full-zip Denison was indeed the 1959 pattern, although subject to various minor manufacturing changes over the next 15 years or so...........the 1959 designation had also disappeared from the official specs and most labels by the mid-1960s too, a bit like the 1968 pattern combat clothing........

With a "22C" stores reference, it's aircrew clothing, not groundcrew issue................

Second issue of the DPM version Harry.........used up to 84...........the clue is the wrist tabs changed over to velcro from the studded type used earlier...........

Yep, spot-on Mark...........the disappearance of manufacturers names on labels around the mid-1990s had something to do with MoD contract tendering, that seemingly opened up tenders over a certain value to the European market, rather than exclusively the UK as had been the case for years.............it seems that names disappeared to avoid upsetting anyone, particularly the end-user.......

Most WW2 officer kit was also made by the WD factories/contractors to sealed patterns for sale to officers at a fixed price as an option to the more expensive private-purchase from tailors, etc............. One of the reasons was that during WW2 many officers were commissioned from the rank's and did not always have the means to obtain their kit via the usual channels, so it was, in part, a form of regulation by the WD.......... I suspect that this trench-coat lining was made to fit either a single or double-breasted raincoat of a specific pattern in accordance with the above........:-D

He is indeed.......:-D......my thoughts are with the above observations......a 70s/early 80s commercial copy or a bespoke item..........the colouring is particularly from this era..........the zipper is not a known MoD manufacturer of the time, and the press-fasteners reminiscent of some para smocks and other garments from the era.............it should be noted that many para smocks, etc, plus waterproofs from the 80s used "Newey" brand fasteners and some late 70s manufacture the "rimmed" type shown on this garment as an alternative....I have a late-70s para smock fitted with the same fasteners and it is an issue item............ I have seen other variants of the 68 pattern jacket in my travels, including those made for overseas forces, NZ Army, and the commercial sector.............I guess that any copy of such would date from the same era ?

Nice !! Poncho roll looks cleaner than mine and mine's almost new !! Note you are still seeking the water bottle pouch (as am I) plus the correct nylon belt.......... I have a spare of the latter, mint, but was keeping to hopefully trade for that damn water bottle carrier if one ever turns up !!!!! The nylon 58 belt is, arguably, one of the hardest things to find so I will need a lot of persuading......... !

Nice finds and good sizes..........I have examples of all of these the same and unless an absolute bargain crosses my path am unlikely to be picking up any more now........I think I have sufficient for my purposes......:-D