boots dms

Sounds right - see earlier thread link for photos of jacket and label:

 

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?26155-Jacket-Overall-Green&highlight=denim

Thankyou kindly.

Ha ! Very true Jason.......most of them were the drill variety, all NOS......but I did see the odd late-production poly-cotton variety there too........

 

Am I right in thinking that these were made in the older "combat suit" sizes...(eg - 1 to 9)...????

If I remember correctly, the one I had was a size 6 and it stated 5ft 7 to 5ft10 and 40-42 ins chest,the sizing used on the earlier pattern 1960 combat clothing.Where as the 2nd pattern size 6 combat smock (1960 pattern og) showed the size as 7080/0515 and was more generously cut.I don,t know if the overall jacket in later polycotton was adjusted size wise also.

please correct me if I,m wrong.

Dear Boots DMS,

 

That usage by the Royal Marines continued well into the 1980s from personal witness.

 

R

Hi

Thanks, I suppose they fazed them out when the heavier 68 pattern were replaced by the later thinner issue smocks.(bearing in mind the times recruits were immersed in water).I joined in 1973 in 89 troop , unfortunatly my time was cut short due to eyesight problems,and I never completed training, so I don,t actually consider myself an ex Royal or serviceman,but have a great deal of respect for those who did ,are.

I used to have one of these myself for a number of years,in the heavier cloth, a good size 6.Then about 18 months ago sold it on ebay for about £15 pounds if I remember,now I very much regret selling it.They do still crop up from time to time but mostly in small sizes.They were used by Royal Marine recruits for basic training and battle fitness during the commando course in the seventies.

A nice early pattern DPM smock 1968 pattern, I picked up recently for a fiver!.The label still quite clear, Beavers of Bolton.

I was perusing some old 1980,s copies of Soldier magazine I had aquired when I came across some pictures of Royal Welch Fusilers on UN duties wearing the normal green tml,s but with tropical dpm jackets( tucked in). This is not the first time I have seen this mode of dress, allways with fighting order on and weapon. I was just curious , was this an official mode of dress or an alternative to heavy 68 smocks in warm weather,but then again why not a complete tropical suit.As an aside I remember once seeing an officer in full dpm tropical kit with an olive wool combat shirt underneath as you would with temperate dpm suit( this was in UK).!

You are quite correct...........size range changed around 1980-81 ish........I might have the TML list in my papers........

If you do it would be interesting to see it, if possible at some time.

Thanks.

I have never understood why they are so keen with measurements such as the arse anyway as you were generally given a quick look up an down and thrown whatever the QM deemed would fit you so they could have saved a lot of hassle and money by making them in less choice of sizes!!!!

Very true,and if you use elastics on the bottoms it did,nt matter anyway leg length wise.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your input,I seem to recall also (correct me if I,m wrong) that the very first issue of trousers mens lightweight used the 1 to 23 size method before changing to the now familiar metric. There must have been quite a size range using this method.

Thanks.

I'm afraid I don't have the relevant VAOS/COSA sections. But I do have the height, waist & seat measurements that relate to various other trousers that might give a very rough idea how sizes are structured. But of the various types of trouser comparing just one size can give variations of a couple of inches here & there. I can post some examples of size structures if you want.

Hi

Thanks, that would help. The measuements are all similar ie waist , the legs of two have been elasticated so difficult to tell original length.I was really just curious how the sizing system worked,as it seems more complicated than the tropical jackets/shirts and the ,for example, 68 pattern sizing I am more familiar with.

Thanks.

Hi ,

I am a bit baffled by the sizeing used for the early tropical dpm trousers.I understand the jacket sizes as in size 5 , 6 etc, however the 3 pairs of trousers I have are sized as 13,15 and 22 and was curious how this worked.

Thanks for all the replies,very grateful.Looks like its back to the old red regatta waterproof for the hills.

I recently aquired a ww2 style windproof smock in a green heavy denim material for a sum of £30.00.I thought it was a replica as it is almost new and intended to use it for hillwalking as its a nice nondiscript green.But on further investigation I am wondering if it is a ww2 original green denim snow smock, the label has been removed but it has a W.D stamp and arrow on the inside and I think a number 9 above this and a number 88 below .The buttons appear to be bakelite not plastic. Before I subject it to the rigours of the hills and woods I am wondering if it is an original if it would be more prudent to look after it . I don,t know how rare these are or even the value of them and was after any advice.

Hi Chevpol,

I,m from South East Kent, handy for Beltring.

Thanks all for the welcome,once Ive settled in I will try and upload some pics, camera permitting.

Hi everybody,just joined having read threads as a non member.I don,t own a military vehicle but have a great interest in the post war British Army esp 1970,s and 80,s. I collect bits and pieces of kit and clothing as a sideline to Military modelling. Originally for reference but its become a hobby in its own right. There is a wealth of knowledge on here and very interesting reading.