Folks, I want to be in correct kit for W&P this year... I am taking my carrier which will be in Sicily campaign colours (desert stone with a black disruptive) I am guessing that my grandfather would have still been in khaki drill at this point ???? Guessing loosely translated ! I have a pic of him here, I have his glen Garry still, but want to know what should go with the uniform ? I have also pictures of him in khaki tropical type shirt, untucked with a belt around the outside, trousers and a brown service cap.... Did they get shorts and pants in khaki ? . ??? Any help appreciated, and where I can get the kit too
Hello Richard, Just done a very quick check... I have photograph's of 50 Div soldiers on board ship en route to Avola (6th Bn Durham Light Infantry) and in later fighting in Acireale (9th Bn Durham Light Infantry), and all show them in KD; with 9DLI either in shorts or slacks (the latter with short webbing gaiters). All shirt sleeves are rolled-up above the elbow. Hope this is helpful. Best, Steve.
Richard Since the Sicilian campaign was fought in July/ August - hottest months of any year the last two photos are about right - if and when Shirts were worn… Cheers
At the risk of stating the obvious, I was there at the time in question. When we moved in August 1943 from Tunisia to Sicily we were wearing KD and we were to stay in KD until a few months later. Sorry not to be more precise but I'm pretty sure that a bit of research will throw up a gerneral army order saying when the winter clothing became official in Italy. Ron
Thankyou gents. What should be worn to be correct ? what type of belt etc ? i cannot tell from the pics if they are the white 37 pattern or something else. sorry to be a pain, but I would like to be correct..... did the lads keep hold of their BD jackets ? as the pic in the carrier shows two of the lads wearing thiers ?
Richard See below, in this case a white belt, still bleached from the African sun Ron Ps Yes we most certainly still kept our BDs If you want to see the variety of uniforms we wore go to the pics in my Photo Gallery http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/album/3-rons-army-photos/
A source of amusement within the family - my fathers life long desire for revenge against the A - rab who stole his best KD trousers. Wry smile as he mentioned the Garand rifle he kept in his workshop vehicle - the A - rab and his Garand never met!
Ammo boots, gaiters, blancoed khaki, KD trousers, KD shirt, MkII tin hat painted sand, 37 pattern belt, braces, basic pouches or cartridge carriers, waterbottle and carrier, 07 bayonet and scabbard with frog,all blancoed khaki or scrubbed
Excellent cheers, where is the best place to get this stuff? I am not fussed if it's repro or original, but needs to look right..... I have noticed on some of the repro stuff they have got the pockets etc wrong...
(I'd talk to [member='combover'] about repro stuff, Richard - he obviously has a handle on it.) An outrageous Tunisian sun-tan would seem to be de-rigeur too. THE CAMPAIGN IN SICILY, 1943. © IWM (NA 4411)IWM Non Commercial Licence Life jacket for the 'just landing' look: THE CAMPAIGN IN SICILY 1943. © IWM (NA 4105)IWM Non Commercial Licence Nice Zoom-able shot of some carriers on the beach: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205186517 Some Highlanders coming ashore: THE CAMPAIGN IN SICILY 1943: OPERATION HUSKY. © IWM (NA 4193)IWM Non Commercial Licence More carriers: THE BRITISH ARMY IN SICILY, 1943. © IWM (NA 4183)IWM Non Commercial Licence Sorry, setting myself off again - just bang Sicily into the IWM, there are hundreds of very clear & good photographs.
