8:16 breaks my heart to see an Englishman or Irishman or Welsh who obviously wishes to be armed but lives under subjugation and another man presumes to tell him “no.” They want to do it to us here, as well, and frankly there’s a possibility that conservatives will just roll over. Even though that final roll is off a cliff’s edge.
So for autumn 1944, would it be acceptable for a para to possibly wear an American wool M37 under the Battledress instead of the issue collarless shirt? Or would that be too farb?
Had complete battle dress from my dads 22nd ind para co. Went to recycling few years back wish I had not now still got his Dennison plus other bits didn’t realise the value. Trousers were very motheaten
Ref the chocolate ration in the tin. I was issued one of these for exercise in winter 1975 in Germany….mine was dated 1962. The contents were in perfect order; no bloom, wrapped in a grease proofed paper. However, because it was an iron ration, 100% cocoa solids…it tasted very very bitter. Needless to say, as ignorant housing estate grunts we just scoffed it! 😂😂
When they were declared to be part of Airborne forces in '44 they supposed to wear the Maroon beret, some of the " Originals" refused e.g. "Paddy Mayne".
Another great attention to detail point. I'm not sure of the exact changeover date. I know Mike Calvert alludes to it in his book. He was SAS Bde Comd in Europe at the end of the war. Belgian SAS and French SAS (?) also wore maroon berets with the SAS badge. Makes the whole thing a little confusing but... that's history for you.
@@lib556 They still wear the same beret in maroon and in British style not French, as do the French commandos in green from traditions of the second world war Commandos. SAS in ww2 favoured the M1A1 paratroop version of the carbine with the metal folding stock. There is a great book called Flames from the Forest about 2 SAS on D-Day and after. I have never seen any pics of SAS in ww2 using the M-1 Garand, but i stand to be corrected. Royal Marines in Korea did. My great uncle was an RM DON-R or Despatch Rider and he carried a Browning 9mm, a Sten Mk V, and a tommy gun on his motorcycle, all proffed (acquired wink wink) because he had a very dangerous solo role. He mentioned he had contacted and seen SAS many times in France and later across Europe including the French and Belgian. Some apparently late in the war had the Patchett machine carbine which later evolved into the Sterling L2A3. He also saw some with silenced Sten guns, and many acquired the German MP40 machine pistols. He carried the Fairbairn-Sykes knife and later acquired an FS Smatchet which some SAS also used, and also a hunting knife given to him by an Army Commando instructor which is what they had issued before the SF knife was common issue, they were made by Wilkinson Sword. He had a very interesting war, lost a lot of friends and survived some very hairy moments. Great to see you keeping history alive. The scrim net was also used to disguise the helmet and the beret too, as a face veil, and a scarf, and as a tourniquet and many other uses like carrying eggs acquired.
Context matters here. The Jedburgh teams wore military uniforms of their own country or British or U.S.Army with their own insignia. This was done to prevent their being shot as spies, wink wink. Undercover were undercover and wore local civilian stuff. Much detail went into authenticaty, down to having local tobacco crumbs in the pockets. And of course, the clothes must be used, with proper labels, etc.
One tiny thing I'd like to say. Your hair is not supposed to stick out of a beret like that, it must look neat and tidy and all hair on the top of the head must be covered. Other than that enjoyable video.
That’s a can of worms we will not open on this thread…. In a nut shell British soldier swearing berets in WW2 wore them in all manner of ways, there was certainly no regulation like todays army.
Gareth, the scrim net, or face veil as it was formally known at the time was a Standard piece of infantry equipment by 1943 and issued to all troops. If you look at any photos from Op Market Garden, or indeed any photos post D-Day you will see troops Wearing and using them. The Colt .45 wasn’t standard issue for ordinary troops, you’re quite right, but the SAS were able to get their hands on them - the same for M1 Carbines & Thompson, they particularly favoured US weapons. The FS again wasn’t standard issue to ordinary troops, but it was to commandos; Aux Units and of course the SAS & SBS & paratroopers to name a few. They had a pocket in their parachutist BD trouser leg specifically for the fighting knife, and they were trained especially in its use (from the Fairbairn Sykes training manual). Silent killing, as you can imagine, was a staple of their training and something they used to great effect numerous time on operations.
@@LivingHistoryUK Roy Urqhuart used a 1911 .45 as his personal weapon in Market Garden. He wasn't SAS, but, 1 AB Div likely had less leeway re non issued weapons than the SAS would. Of course, being the Div Comd... he could use whatever he wanted.
@@lib556 Brownings were popular, they were even used by the Germans when they overran the Belgian arms plants and kept production going, so allied troops could get access to them after D-Day or ones produced by Inglis in Canada. Thirteen rounds as opposed to eight makes a difference. Many Airborne, Commando, SAS, SBS, and other gained access to either as war progressed. I think Urqhuart as played by Sean Connery in A Bridge Too Far actually had a Browning not certain. There were also General officers models of Colt and Browning pistols made.
@OrcsMustDie The early marks of the Sten had a reputation for unreliability, especially with safety. You are correct about special forces and weapons of choice........where possible. For example, Brigadier Lovat of D-Day fame was known to favour non service issue rifles.
@OrcsMustDie Yes understandable but photographic evidence doesn’t lie. Members of the SAS carried Mk2 Stens in France even if it was for a short while acquired from Maquis supplies replacing drop lost weapons until they “traded up”.
@OrcsMustDie Think people here are making a mountain out of a molehill. Guys at the time may or may not have liked Stens. But there of photos of them carrying them. All Steve in the video is saying is that he is carrying on to an event and there is proof the SAS used them. That's it.
I am amazed at the level of detail and the depth of repro articles available.
Unfortunately the sten gun is parkerised like all american's guns... It should be black...
Thanks a lot for your work 👍
I always fancied the old style smock. We had the later ones in my day... sadly.
8:16 breaks my heart to see an Englishman or Irishman or Welsh who obviously wishes to be armed but lives under subjugation and another man presumes to tell him “no.” They want to do it to us here, as well, and frankly there’s a possibility that conservatives will just roll over. Even though that final roll is off a cliff’s edge.
Really great video guys. I hope you enjoy the show.
Thanks will, glad you enjoyed it. Will endeavour to do a post event review. 😃
So for autumn 1944, would it be acceptable for a para to possibly wear an American wool M37 under the Battledress instead of the issue collarless shirt? Or would that be too farb?
if you are representing a trooper of 1944 i understand the pleat in the front blouse pockets were no longer provided to save material?
The austerity pattern superseded the Bd serge and 40 pattern but was still in circulation late war.
I have a King and Country Denson smock
Excellent video, Steven! 👍🏻
I've actually had my own pair of ammo boots from SOF re - soled with 'commando' soles, from Alan Price too! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks mate appreciate that. Yeh great boots, Allan does a top job 🙂
Great kit and great video!
I like the clear way the various stuff is presented in it's own chapter.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video. BTW the Fairbairn Skyes Dagger is a Repro Second Pattern
shirt "hairy mary" as my great uncle said, RM Commando D-Day
Where do the Sten magazines go?
Pockets of smock or trousers.
Very interesting and informative keep up the good work
Naic video vlogs the best 👌💖
I remember my dad bringing the Sten home. remembering him saying it get very hot.
Thank you for great Video. Best regards from Northern Germany
Thanks Helge 👋
@@LivingHistoryUK you very welcome
Had complete battle dress from my dads 22nd ind para co. Went to recycling few years back wish I had not now still got his Dennison plus other bits didn’t realise the value. Trousers were very motheaten
Why....??? I dont mean to throw salt into any open wounds but WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS? donate or recycle their own family members military kit/gear???
nice mate love it
Ref the chocolate ration in the tin. I was issued one of these for exercise in winter 1975 in Germany….mine was dated 1962. The contents were in perfect order; no bloom, wrapped in a grease proofed paper. However, because it was an iron ration, 100% cocoa solids…it tasted very very bitter. Needless to say, as ignorant housing estate grunts we just scoffed it! 😂😂
Really impressive impression
Wasn't the beret more of a tan colour in ww2?
When they were declared to be part of Airborne forces in '44 they supposed to wear the Maroon beret, some of the " Originals" refused e.g. "Paddy Mayne".
Another great attention to detail point. I'm not sure of the exact changeover date. I know Mike Calvert alludes to it in his book. He was SAS Bde Comd in Europe at the end of the war. Belgian SAS and French SAS (?) also wore maroon berets with the SAS badge. Makes the whole thing a little confusing but... that's history for you.
@@lib556 They still wear the same beret in maroon and in British style not French, as do the French commandos in green from traditions of the second world war Commandos.
SAS in ww2 favoured the M1A1 paratroop version of the carbine with the metal folding stock. There is a great book called Flames from the Forest about 2 SAS on D-Day and after. I have never seen any pics of SAS in ww2 using the M-1 Garand, but i stand to be corrected. Royal Marines in Korea did.
My great uncle was an RM DON-R or Despatch Rider and he carried a Browning 9mm, a Sten Mk V, and a tommy gun on his motorcycle, all proffed (acquired wink wink) because he had a very dangerous solo role. He mentioned he had contacted and seen SAS many times in France and later across Europe including the French and Belgian.
Some apparently late in the war had the Patchett machine carbine which later evolved into the Sterling L2A3. He also saw some with silenced Sten guns, and many acquired the German MP40 machine pistols.
He carried the Fairbairn-Sykes knife and later acquired an FS Smatchet which some SAS also used, and also a hunting knife given to him by an Army Commando instructor which is what they had issued before the SF knife was common issue, they were made by Wilkinson Sword. He had a very interesting war, lost a lot of friends and survived some very hairy moments. Great to see you keeping history alive. The scrim net was also used to disguise the helmet and the beret too, as a face veil, and a scarf, and as a tourniquet and many other uses like carrying eggs acquired.
A nice video mate it would be nice to see an OSS or SOE one
Context matters here. The Jedburgh teams wore military uniforms of their own country or British or U.S.Army with their own insignia. This was done to prevent their being shot as spies, wink wink. Undercover were undercover and wore local civilian stuff. Much detail went into authenticaty, down to having local tobacco crumbs in the pockets. And of course, the clothes must be used, with proper labels, etc.
Brilliant stuff keep the videos coming SAS WHO DARES WINS 👍🇬🇧.
Thank you, and will do 🇬🇧
One tiny thing I'd like to say. Your hair is not supposed to stick out of a beret like that, it must look neat and tidy and all hair on the top of the head must be covered. Other than that enjoyable video.
That’s a can of worms we will not open on this thread…. In a nut shell British soldier swearing berets in WW2 wore them in all manner of ways, there was certainly no regulation like todays army.
@@LivingHistoryUK I was about to edit my post actually to say maybe regulations were a bit less stringent back then
@@keighlancoe5933 I did a video not long back which explains it a lot easier :) ua-cam.com/video/qgBJyEce0HQ/v-deo.html
scrim net issued about 1960...US 45 pistol not issued, knife not issued to all.
Gareth, the scrim net, or face veil as it was formally known at the time was a Standard piece of infantry equipment by 1943 and issued to all troops. If you look at any photos from Op Market Garden, or indeed any photos post D-Day you will see troops
Wearing and using them.
The Colt .45 wasn’t standard issue for ordinary troops, you’re quite right, but the SAS were able to get their hands on them - the same for M1 Carbines & Thompson, they particularly favoured US weapons.
The FS again wasn’t standard issue to ordinary troops, but it was to commandos; Aux Units and of course the SAS & SBS & paratroopers to name a few. They had a pocket in their parachutist BD trouser leg specifically for the fighting knife, and they were trained especially in its use (from the Fairbairn Sykes training manual). Silent killing, as you can imagine, was a staple of their training and something they used to great effect numerous time on operations.
@@LivingHistoryUK Roy Urqhuart used a 1911 .45 as his personal weapon in Market Garden. He wasn't SAS, but, 1 AB Div likely had less leeway re non issued weapons than the SAS would. Of course, being the Div Comd... he could use whatever he wanted.
@@lib556 Brownings were popular, they were even used by the Germans when they overran the Belgian arms plants and kept production going, so allied troops could get access to them after D-Day or ones produced by Inglis in Canada. Thirteen rounds as opposed to eight makes a difference. Many Airborne, Commando, SAS, SBS, and other gained access to either as war progressed. I think Urqhuart as played by Sean Connery in A Bridge Too Far actually had a Browning not certain. There were also General officers models of Colt and Browning pistols made.
@@robshirewood5060 I read Urqhuart's book on Arnhem. He carried a US 1911.
Some of this is complete TOSH. I will not even treat this as true.
Please expand?
@OrcsMustDie The early marks of the Sten had a reputation for unreliability, especially with safety.
You are correct about special forces and weapons of choice........where possible.
For example, Brigadier Lovat of D-Day fame was known to favour non service issue rifles.
@OrcsMustDie Yes understandable but photographic evidence doesn’t lie. Members of the SAS carried Mk2 Stens in France even if it was for a short while acquired from Maquis supplies replacing drop lost weapons until they “traded up”.
@@herefordshireregimentalmus8771 Speak with some older Regimental members. Notwithstanding the person who is doing the talk.
@OrcsMustDie Think people here are making a mountain out of a molehill. Guys at the time may or may not have liked Stens. But there of photos of them carrying them. All Steve in the video is saying is that he is carrying on to an event and there is proof the SAS used them. That's it.
I’m always amazed why people want to dress up and play soldiers? How silly. From a former 2434 1974 - 1998.