This is an IWM photo - sorry I've misplaced the reference - of a Crusader tank. The man standing in the turret is General Paget. My question is about the other man. What is he wearing? Is it official army rain gear? It certainly looks plastic.
Matey might be wearing some variant of the WW2 anti-gas cape. I've only got limited reference (Europa Militaria's handy little guide to gas stuff.), but the material looks the same, as does the cut of the upper half. What I can't work out is if he's wearing separate trousers or it's just the long cape tied with a belt. (Seems equally likely he's just got some civvy purchase waterproofs on.) Ah. ? Putting on Anti-gas Protective Clothing AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS ON THE BRITISH HOME FRONT: THE WORK OF THE GAS CLEANSING CENTRE, WANDSWORTH, LONDON, ENGLAND, 1941 Not sure Gen. Paget really ever looked terribly impressed. Didn't really have the face for it...
He looks as if he suffered from chronic dyspepsia. But then I'd be dyspeptic too if someone else came in from another theater and used the army I'd worked myself to the bone building and training to win yet more glory for himself.
So maybe it's the anti gas stuff. "Cape" seems like an odd word for something which actually worked as coat.
Maybe just the angle, but I can't see a hood: I'm no expert (to put it mildly), but wouldn't you expect a hood on an anti-gas garment? Otherwise, it seems to fit... not the garment in the picture, particularly, but the identification.
Hood seems to be a separate part (3 piece kit mentioned in my limited reference). Looks like it stretches around the helmet rim and hung from that. As per photo of two chaps. Think he's wearing a cape tucked into the trousers. Maybe in a misguided attempt to look smarter... 'Cape' a reasonable term. Hangover from first war, and maybe useful in reinforcing its implied application as a single use garment rather than 'handy waterproof thing'. Imagine this chap senior enough to ignore that implication.
Is it not linked to the tarpaulin on the tank. Possibly gas related or even to waterproof the vehicle for deepish water wading. I know that the Artillery used to use tarpaulins wrapped around lorry rads and under the engine compartment when crossing or fording rivers. Sadly the man in the pre nuclear era NBC suit does not have them sealed at the bottom so would get wet from below his trouser legs. Looks to be some sort of technical trial taking place. The so called Gas Cape had no hood ( not the ones we were issued with) and was buttoned to keep the water out . At Anzio the 67th Field came ashore in DUKW's wearing Gas Capes tied at the throat and waste as floatation devices. Fortunately only one Dukw sank very slowly when the American driver thinking he was at Salerno rushed down the ramp of his LCT putting the bow of the vehicle under water The Gas Cape worked to keep the men afloat. THE ALLIED LANDINGS AT ANZIO: 22 JANUARY-23 MAY 1944
Not my subject at all but a little bit of snurgling on the interweb brings up this picture: World War II Pictures In Details: Maneuvers of British Armored Division
Paget being dressed by an RTR corporal at the same occasion: 42ND ARMOURED DIVISION EXERCISE, NEAR MALTON IN YORKSHIRE, 29 SEPTEMBER 1942
IRRC he suffered from chronic pain from the wounds that invalided him in 1918. He was notoriously short tempered.
