A Beginner's Guide to British Far East Kit and Clothing, 1944-1945 - Part III

Third part in a series taking a look at the kit issued to British troops in the Far East during the latter part of the Second World War.
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[@pacman1386]

Loving the series as my grandfather served in Burma and I'm recreating his unit.

[@tinkersparkie10]

Talking about the length of the bayonet my late father told me they were given a short bayonet but after their first skirmish with the Japanese they dump them for the long bayonet .

[@davidbrennan660]

Indian manufactured 37 pattern webbing is collected for completeness rather than for its quality and look.....like South African webbing... it is its own thing.

[@robertking2580]

Hello Simon, thought I'd say I just got in a set of 1937 (1943) pattern Australian wide pouches which are quite rare here in the states.

[@RiflemanMoore]

A nice thing to find, for sure. Are they the earlier examples with snaps/press studs or the later quick release?

[@robertking2580]

@@RiflemanMoore They are earlier press stud examples. One is missing the buckle on the rear of the pouch, both are in rough condition. I hope to use them in a Australian Vietnam war impression sometime after I finish my 1st Division Fallujah impression.

[@frednoyes6330]

Hello Simon and season's greetings from across the pond! As you seem to be quite a knowledgeable fellow regarding British militaria, what would be the bet way to contact you for questions about such things? Love your videos BTW, especially the stuff I haven't a hope of getting in the States. Cheers!

[@robertking2580]

He's got some links in the description, though he generally doesn't reply. I believe he's got an Email address as well.

[@davidbrennan660]

Asking questions on his videos normally works if it interests him.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Hi Fred, feel free to drop me an email at the address above.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Where have you messaged me Robert? Unfortunately some of the social media notification systems are severley lacking so I do miss some messages.

[@robertking2580]

@@RiflemanMoore It was on Instagram a while back. I deleted Instagram a few months back so don't worry about it.

[@jjrider6758]

I've collected WW2 British/Indian Far East items for over 30 years now and whilst I've been lucky to find every element of the Indian 37 pattern web equipment I've never found (or even seen) an Indian-made Entrenching tool carrier, or an Indian made entrenching tool come to that.. I have actively looked for one or reference to one but have come up with nothing.. Do you know whether there actually was an Indian-made version or whether those carriers seen in period photos are in fact British made/issued examples which were used until worn out and then not replaced 'in theatre' ?.. On a slightly different subject.. There are clear period photos of Wingate carrying both the SMLE and the No.4 (though not at the same time of course !..) so given that he was killed in March 1944 these photos prove that the No.4 reached the Far East theatre quite early, in early 1944 or possibly even 1943..

[@RiflemanMoore]

There are Indian made two part entrenching tool carriers but they are not all that common. I am hoping to add one to my collection in the not too distant future. Regards the No. 4, a fair point indeed, though I can't really glean from that how common they were in theatre in early 1944, I'd want to see photos showing them issued to troops more generally to advise reenactors to use them interchangably with the No. 1 Mk III* in that time frame.

[@jjrider6758]

@@RiflemanMoore Absolutely, it's also entirely possible that Wingate had 'procured' a No.4 very early after it's introduction into the Far East theatre, possibly even from the first batch arriving in theatre.. The finish on the one he is carrying in the photo of him inside an aircraft certainly looks pristine enough for it to be newly issued. The only problem with period photos of the Far East campaign of course is that it is often impossible to ascertain an accurate date of when it was taken, unless it is an official press photo with the label on the reverse and/or a specific operation can be identified.. Interesting to hear that Indian manufactured entrenching tool carriers do exist, I've been looking for one for a long time and it's pretty much the only item of Indian webbing that I don't have - I have even acquired some WW2 dated Indian webbing items over the years for which I have no idea regarding their intended use !.. To be fair that is one of the reasons why I became interested in WW2 Indian-made items in general.