Waterproof leggings anyone?

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by SDP, Sep 28, 2014.

  1. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    I know from talking to an ex Royal Marine who landed on Gold Beach on the Normandy D Day, that getting your wet feet was an irritation. He went through a lot on that day but the fact that he couldn't get his boots and feet dry seemed to have caused him unnecessary anguish. Could also, of course, by focussing on his feet, be his little way of avoiding talking about other things he saw that day.

    My question is: bearing in mind the amazing amount of organisation expended on other things, why weren't troops landing from Landing Craft given waterproof over-shoes?

    They were given waterproof bags for their rifles which I've seen on photographs but I can't recall seeing a photograph of a guy wearing over-shoes.
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    There are accounts of infantry troops wearing waterproof trousers/waders, mostly those in the reserve brigades who were supposed to be pushing on inland. From memory, they were more of a hindrance than a help if the water was too choppy or too deep as they filled up with water and kept it in rather than keeping it out. As most of the Commandos had 'pushing inland' rather than assault tasks, I'd have thought they would have used the same trick to land dryshod? Will have a scratch round later to see if I can find some sources.
     
  3. idler

    idler GeneralList

  4. TriciaF

    TriciaF Junior Member

    I don't know the reason - maybe technology wasn't advanced enough to produce such things.
    But I would think they would be aware of the condition of "trench foot" from WW1.
    Your Royal Marine friend would know how important healthy feet are, and how quickly they go soggy. As I know from our back-packing days.
     
  5. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Waders, that's the word I was looking for. Thanks Idler.
     
  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    SDP

    At the risk of stating the obvious, the perils of getting wet were not confined to troops engaged in coastal landings.

    One of the lesser joys of life in the winters of wartime Italy was the perpetual freezing, blinding rain and the subsequent mud.

    In theory, our issue of three pairs of socks whould have been adequate, in practice they were always wet despite our vehicles being used as permanent uniform driers.

    Ron
     
  7. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Ron

    I totally understand your comment. My own father, who was a tank driver, said something similar.

    He also commented on the use of a spare helmet or bucket used by the crew for those situations which would normally have required a 'quick evacuation with shovel to hand'. And also the use of an empty cartridge case for less demanding situations! Coupled with the fact that tank crew often went without a shower for the odd week or two (I am aware of one situation where 'and we had our first shower in three weeks'), the inside of a tank must have stunk like hell....oh plus the smell of petrol and cordite etc.....
     
  8. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    General Bucknall, commanding XXX Corps, was concerned about troops getting wet while landing on Gold. Waterproof overalls were designed and tested but in the end it was decided that they were impractical for assault troops and unnecessary for others.

    The only personnel I have found to be issued with waders were pioneers tasked with loading casualties onto water ambulances.

    Mike
     
  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    SDP

    If you look at my Army CV below, you will see I had 2 completely different wartime roles and it was in the first role of which I mainly write as a Driver/Op in Light Ack Ack.

    In my later time in the 4th QOH, my tank was a Honey, turretless, Stuart and although we never suffered the claustrophobia of those who's chariot was of the conventional turreted type we lost out by being completely exposed to both the elements and enemy fire.

    If I may be crude, the only advantage we ever had was being able to pee over the side of the turret ring !

    Ron
     

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