interesting , I have worn that Canuck outfit in re enactments .it is surprisingly well balanced , I would take the entrenching short spade and handle and strap it to my small pack so it is up high on the back , better balance , and I have pictures of troops wearing it that style .You need to add the ever present tin cup/mug to a pack strap! well done ,cheers
Great video! Just a few small clarifications to share: The MkIII steel helmet was used on D-Day, not the MkIV, which was introduced in 1945. The life belt would typically be worn under the webbing equipment, and the entrenching tool helve with lugs for the No.4 bayonet was introduced after D-Day. But othere than that it was an intersting video.
Good point on the helmet. I thought maybe I was confused as I was fairly certain it was a mk 3. Fun fact: the mk 3 was issued to 3rd CDN Inf Div for D Day. The other divs were still using the mk 2 up to the end. The mk 3 was also issued to 3rd UK Inf Div for D Day and they landed on Sword next to 3rd CDN Div. When historians talk about "3rd Div on D Day... you know the one that was issued mk 3 helmets" one can rightly say, "which one are you discussing?" 13th CDN Inf Bde and 1st SSF participated in the Battle of Kiska prior to D Day and the Canadians in those 2 formations were kitted out with US M1 helmets. If I recall correctly, many Canadians in 3rd Inf Div landed on D Day wearing the experimental battle vest.
The american gas mask almost looks too modern to be of ww2 design....i wonder if it actually was better than say the British type(s). The US M1 helmet is a very recogniable design, and as you stated , loads of countries used a version of in the post war period. I saw the Robert Cappa exhibition in the imperial war museum 5 years ago, they had the actual photos on display....but oddly they didnt mention the account of the lab assistant over exposing a lot of the photos, i found this very odd as its a crucial part of the 'story' of D Day. I too have a MK4 dated 1945 and also a MK3 but the 3 is in a relic condition really. I didnt realise the difference in Canadian and British tunics, all i know is they must have been very uncomfortable when compared to the American clothing of the period....all that wool , especially when wet....anyway good stuff as always, cheers and all the best 😊😊😊
That is a WW2 Springfield 1903a3 rifle if you look on the barrel behind the front sight you will find a date code such as 6-43 for June 1943 besides that I enjoy your videos
Apparently the dent in the top of the us helmet shell was deliberately done by the soldier to give the shell a flat stable area where it would not topple over if used as a wash basin. Really good vid,cheers
Aha! My Modele 1951 French helmet has exactly the same big dent which I've puzzled over for years. Just got it out... it balances upside down perfectly. Great info.👍
Also I've read online that supposedly some ww2 veterans that went to see Saving private Ryan when it was released in theatres would either walk out or have severe flashbacks due to the graphic and very accurate depiction of the landings in Normandy during D-day.
Yep. That was widely reported when the film came out. I was in northern France that summer of 1998 and read the reviews. A very old local chap who had seen the film agreed about the realism... apart from one point which made me laugh. He said the Americans never walked anywhere if there was a tank or jeep or any motorised transport available. Obviously that's not true, but as a general observation it kind of fits in with my dad's opinion of the yanks he knew in ww2. "Scruffy, lazy buggers, but good in a fight."
The seams on the helmet were made rear seam by 1944 I believe, and they also started making the swivel bales late war because the fixed bales would sometimes break off and the rim would be made in manganese instead of steel during the later stages of the war If I recall , nice display mate and the service boot whilst sometimes used in combat they would be issued a second pair designated " Boots, Leather, type III, rough-out " which were the main service boots issued to most troops until they adopted the m43 boots with the bucket upper which replaced the need for the Gaiters that were very unpopular by troops and took longer to do up and undo.
great work
interesting , I have worn that Canuck outfit in re enactments .it is surprisingly well balanced , I would take the entrenching short spade and handle and strap it to my small pack so it is up high on the back , better balance , and I have pictures of troops wearing it that style .You need to add the ever present tin cup/mug to a pack strap! well done ,cheers
Great video! Just a few small clarifications to share: The MkIII steel helmet was used on D-Day, not the MkIV, which was introduced in 1945. The life belt would typically be worn under the webbing equipment, and the entrenching tool helve with lugs for the No.4 bayonet was introduced after D-Day.
But othere than that it was an intersting video.
Good point on the helmet. I thought maybe I was confused as I was fairly certain it was a mk 3. Fun fact: the mk 3 was issued to 3rd CDN Inf Div for D Day. The other divs were still using the mk 2 up to the end. The mk 3 was also issued to 3rd UK Inf Div for D Day and they landed on Sword next to 3rd CDN Div. When historians talk about "3rd Div on D Day... you know the one that was issued mk 3 helmets" one can rightly say, "which one are you discussing?" 13th CDN Inf Bde and 1st SSF participated in the Battle of Kiska prior to D Day and the Canadians in those 2 formations were kitted out with US M1 helmets.
If I recall correctly, many Canadians in 3rd Inf Div landed on D Day wearing the experimental battle vest.
The american gas mask almost looks too modern to be of ww2 design....i wonder if it actually was better than say the British type(s). The US M1 helmet is a very recogniable design, and as you stated , loads of countries used a version of in the post war period. I saw the Robert Cappa exhibition in the imperial war museum 5 years ago, they had the actual photos on display....but oddly they didnt mention the account of the lab assistant over exposing a lot of the photos, i found this very odd as its a crucial part of the 'story' of D Day. I too have a MK4 dated 1945 and also a MK3 but the 3 is in a relic condition really. I didnt realise the difference in Canadian and British tunics, all i know is they must have been very uncomfortable when compared to the American clothing of the period....all that wool , especially when wet....anyway good stuff as always, cheers and all the best 😊😊😊
That is a WW2 Springfield 1903a3 rifle if you look on the barrel behind the front sight you will find a date code such as 6-43 for June 1943 besides that I enjoy your videos
Apparently the dent in the top of the us helmet shell was deliberately done by the soldier to give the shell a flat stable area where it would not topple over if used as a wash basin. Really good vid,cheers
Thanks for the info 👍
Aha! My Modele 1951 French helmet has exactly the same big dent which I've puzzled over for years. Just got it out... it balances upside down perfectly. Great info.👍
Also I've read online that supposedly some ww2 veterans that went to see Saving private Ryan when it was released in theatres would either walk out or have severe flashbacks due to the graphic and very accurate depiction of the landings in Normandy during D-day.
It was very realistic 👍
Yep. That was widely reported when the film came out. I was in northern France that summer of 1998 and read the reviews. A very old local chap who had seen the film agreed about the realism... apart from one point which made me laugh. He said the Americans never walked anywhere if there was a tank or jeep or any motorised transport available. Obviously that's not true, but as a general observation it kind of fits in with my dad's opinion of the yanks he knew in ww2. "Scruffy, lazy buggers, but good in a fight."
The seams on the helmet were made rear seam by 1944 I believe, and they also started making the swivel bales late war because the fixed bales would sometimes break off and the rim would be made in manganese instead of steel during the later stages of the war If I recall , nice display mate and the service boot whilst sometimes used in combat they would be issued a second pair designated " Boots, Leather, type III, rough-out " which were the main service boots issued to most troops until they adopted the m43 boots with the bucket upper which replaced the need for the Gaiters that were very unpopular by troops and took longer to do up and undo.
Thanks for the info