Jump to content
  • 0

Wartime Drivers Uniforms...


Question

Posted

At a recent show we attended I was asked a couple of times what webbing, if any, would have been worn by a driver of say a 3 tonner during the war? RASC, REME whatever, was there such thing as a specific webbing set, belt, water bottle, gas mask etc or are they all simply carried loose in the vehicle?

 

3 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Posted

Presumably gaiters and belt perhaps with the Pouch, MT, effectively a standard pouch with a tab on the back at the top to allow it instead to hang from the webbing belt.

Rest probably stashed around the cab.

  • 0
Posted

Stores Ref. A1/AA 5252 Pouch, basic, M.T. Drivers
Stores Ref. CN 1490 Web Equipment, Patt. ’37, Pouch, basic, M.T. Drivers

The Pouch, basic, M.T. Drivers, was one of many wartime introductions, coded in the 5000 series, here introduced by A.C.I. 959/1944. Note that it did not originally have “Patt. ’37 W.E.” nomenclature, as with several items only added to the Pattern post-war. There was evidently no L. of C., which would have notified that it should be added to the V.A.O.S.. In consequence, in 1951, it was marked as N.I.V. in L. of C. §C4686, with no Old Designation. This L. of C. re-coded the wartime 5000 code allocations, on this pouch to CN 1490, in the course of which it was also entered under the W.E., Patt. ‘37 sub-title. The A.C.I. authorised the withdrawal of Carriers, cartridge from M.T. Drivers who, though not stated, had evidently exchanged their rifles for Sten M.C.s. Also authorised was the issue of a pair of Attachments, brace, so that Braces could be worn. Only a single Pouch was worn.

The M.T. Drivers pouch was a Mark III pouch, but fitted only with a broad webbing belt loop, 2-inches wide. This allowed seated M.T. (Motor Transport) Drivers to wear the pouch “…on the left or right side whichever is more convenient when driving…”. All examples noted have a press-stud closure, not Q.R.

The example here is maker marked "Finnegans Ltd." and dated 1944.

1944_mt_front.jpg.8e84d6b4ccf9530ba60545d93837a910.jpg1944_mt_rear.jpg.5760d801312198f3f650d04ada1d05b4.jpg

Source:-

http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/1937/1937_pouches.html

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...