Enfield1940

Mark - if I am not mistaken that looks like another H E Textiles manufactured smock. They seemed to have had the market on Smocks and windproofs in the late 70's!

That's good to know. I believe they also made P1959 Denison smocks?

Thanks for your comments. I was pleased to get it and I don't think I did badly price-wise compared to this slightly later one that recently went for an eye-watering £122...:shocked:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200608721070

I can only assume bidders were driven into a frenzy by the early 'dotty' type DPM print. :rolleyes: I agree about the zip - it appears to be identical to the one on my pre-1977 P1968 smock and it definitely adds a certain something.

I've since managed to identify the badge, although more by luck than skill. According to this web page it's a pre-1999 arm patch for the '26 Petroleum Squadron, 12 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps':

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/LOGISTICS/PART_3/RLC_Part3.htm

Not the first badge I'd have expected to see on a Para Smock, but interesting none the less. (Assuming it's not a random later addition of course)

Hopefully I'll get the smock next week and hopefully it's as nice as it looks.

I seem to be on a winning streak at present for DPM Para Smocks - I've just won an auction on a '77 Pattern example:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400224966529&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

One interesting feature I note is that it has a loop of DPM cloth stitched on the front over the zip. An improvised rank slide epaulette?

Also, could anyone tell me what the 'dog's head' badge on the left arm is? A quick Google hasn't turned anything up.

Thanks,

Mark

And just for the hell of it, the label reads:

SMOCK PARACHUTIST'S

8415-99-132-4015

Size 180/96

JAMES SMITH & Co. (DERBY) LTD

SL31B/2265

Over it has been written 'MURPHY' and the number '24680571'. Anyone know him?:-D

The buttons are Prym rather than Newey and the zip is unbranded.

I've received the Para smock and it does have hood buttons - although they're 3 separate buttons around the back of the collar just for the hood rather than 1 hood specific button and using the 2 epaulette buttons to attach. My P68 hood fits perfectly.

It has a Staff Sergeant badge on the right sleeve, but nothing else and no sign of any badges having been removed. I'd therefore guess it was 'acquired' by a non-para, although it has both an NSN and a contract code so I assume it's not a commercial copy.

Thanks. That's handy as I have a mint P1968 hood in the darker 1980's(?) type DPM that'll go with it.:-)

There's some references here to 'fire retardent CS95':

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/440641-flying-suits-scrapped-sh-aircrew.html

The same thing?

Yes it is a '84/85 pattern Smock so your date line should be right.

Ta

Jon

Thanks. Am I right in thinking they take a button-on P1968 smock hood?

Cheers,

Mark

Both Beaufort (More known for naval and sea survival kit) And Barbour made approved 'private purchase kit'.

About 5 or so years ago I saw some DPM Barbour jackets in their factory outlet shop near Braintree. They had Union Flag badges on the sleeves.

They looked like nice bits of kit, but even at a reduced price of circa £125 they were still a bit rich for my blood.

Here's the link:

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/outdoor-clothing/combat-jackets/new-genuine-beaufort-woodland-639680.html

Hi,

Following on from this, I've just won a eBay auction on a DPM Para Smock made by James Smith & Co. (£25 inc p&p:-D) This presumably dates it no later than February 1987 when they went out of business? I can see in the pictures that it has the FFD pocket underneath the right arm, so am I right in assuming it was made between 1984-87?

Thanks,

Mark

PS. Link on the company's demise:

http://www.bygonederbyshire.co.uk/stories/8203-James-Smith-unforgettable-day-hundreds-Derby-clothing-factory-workers-lost-jobs/article-1797562-detail/article.html

PPS. eBay auction:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150619991761&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I've now found an NSN for the scarf: 8440-99-13069638

Is anyone able to look these up?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi,

I have an OG P1960 smock and a P1968 smock - both made by James Smith & Co of Derby. Borrowing the pictures on the excellent 'forces80' website, the P1960 smock has the following style of label:

http://www.forces80.com/images/60pattlaba2.jpg

And the P1968 smock has this style of label:

http://www.forces80.com/images/labelsmock68pattern.jpg

Can I therefore assume that the P1960 smock is a late one and the P1968 smock is an early one, or is it more complicated than that?

Thanks,

Mark

Thanks. I don't suppose you could point me towards a picture of something suitable?

Cheers,

Mark

Something else I forgot to ask - although it's a more general question - why is the old British sizing system (Size 1, Size 2, etc) still being used for aircrew clothing when the army ceased using it long ago?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi,

Amongst other things on the 'instructions' label of my 1971 dated Mk3 jacket it states:

"SCARF A scarf (Stores Ref. 22C\2587) should be stowed in the collar of the jacket for use under survival conditions."

Does anyone have some info on what this is? What it looks like? Can they be got hold of still? etc. I've tried searching, but haven't turned anything up.

Thanks,

Mark

I forgot to ask: was there ever a desert DPM version of the Mk2A jacket?

the manufacturers name did not generally appear on such garments until the late 1980's.....

Ah. I had wondered why my Mk3 jacket didn't have a maker name. Was this a specific RAF policy?

welcome aboard from another Herts lad ,where abouts are you based?

Thanks. I'm in Bishops Stortford, so have a near constant diet of aircraft overhead heading to and from Stansted Airport. Fortunately I like aircraft.:-)

There may be an MV owner nearby as I've seen a WWII US (?) truck parked on the driveway of a house around the corner a couple of times.

Cheers,

Mark

I've now received it. Wow! What a fantastic bit of kit. Superb build quality and loads of detailing. I can see why they would be a popular item to acquire by non-aircrew prior to the introduction of the P1994 smock. It compares very favourably with my P1960 and P1968 smocks.

It's not "brand new" as it has a name written on the label - anyone know a 'Steve Coote'? But it's nearly new and for under £20 delivered I'm not complaining. It was made by Beaufort - contract date 2005 - and there's a 'Base Inspection 7' stamp on the label.

Just need some excuses to wear it now. Unfortunately my better half is not a big fan of olive green or camo...

Mark

Thanks. I kind of caught the bug for this sort of thing last year when I found a size 8 1971 dated green Mk3 aircrew jacket in a charity chop for £3.:-D (My main collecting interest is British guns and bayonets) The Mk2A is sort of a companion piece - at least that's how I've justified the purchase...

I don't suppose you could point me towards a picture or two of the MK2 olive drab aircrew combat smock and trousers? It would be interesting to see.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi,

I'm currently awaiting the delivery of a "brand new" size 6 example of the above. (£19.19 inc. postage from eBay - hopefully a bargain) I was having a browse through the current aircrew order of dress document on the RAF website and I noticed that under DPM jacket it lists the CS95 rather than the Mk2A.

Does this mean the Mk2A has been replaced by the CS95, or have I missed something?:???

Thanks,

Mark

Hi,

I shall 'fess up from the start that I'm not a MV owner or suchlike. I came across this forum whilst looking for information on postwar British combat dress - a new interest of mine - and found lots of interesting stuff in the clothing section.

You may know me by the username peregrinvs from a number of other forums such as wwiireenacting, Milsurps, BOCN and a few others. My main interest is British small arms and have a collection of mostly WWII deacts.

Beltring is an annual pilgrimmage of mine so I have probably walked past many of you and / or your vehicles at some point. However, I may have to miss it this year after going since 2000 as the due date of child no.2 is rather nearby.

We shall see...:undecided:

Cheers,

Mark