British Infantrymen, North West Europe, Winter 1939 - '40 & 1944 - '45

[@leothatcher7972]

You are excellent at these videos, really good work as always :)

[@WWIIUK]

Fantastic video, a very nice recreation certainly enjoyed watching.

[@alfparsons2007]

Thanks for making a video on my idea, Great vid as always

[@iainsmith6643]

My old man was fighting up through NW Europe in 1944-45. He had a mark 3 helmet and reckoned the leather jerkin was essential. Great vid I now know how he looked in that winter.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you found it informative!

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

Great video as always RM. I wish I'd had this when we were researching our new SWW display at Leeds! If you come and see it, please be gentle in your criticism ;)

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you! Where is the dispaly exactly Jon?

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

@@RiflemanMoore It's in the corner of the War gallery mezzanine floor (floor 3) where the old Hesco command post was.

[@paulholloway1447]

Thank you for such great information, very professional and interesting,great videos thank you.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you, glad you found it informative!

[@KermitTheGamer21]

Thanks for the video! I'm doing an impression of a soldier in the 1st Guards Armoured during Market Garden and while there are a few differences because it wasn't quite winter, this video answered a few questions I had, particularly puttees vs anklets and the color of the webbing (my kit requirements list called it "khaki", which is traditionally a tan color, when it is clearly green; I suppose the "KG" in KG3 stands for "khaki green")

[@ccbwook]

Top flight, thank you!

[@jakebrowncollection1772]

Amazing video Simon. Are you possibly going to do a similar video with kit of the Great war, early and late that would be awesome.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Certainly something I plan on for the future, yes!

[@davidbrennan660]

Nice work.

[@mgmidgetsandme6647]

Brilliant video, I was wondering if you could possibly make a video on what and how things were carried in the 37 pattern webbing in fuller detail last war? Always great videos they always help👍

[@olivier3847]

were the water bottles always carried on the right side?

[@EagleTwoSix]

Is a full sleeve water bottle carrier proper for the operation Market Garden. Also would KG3 blanco be okay for MG?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Any of the British waterbottle carriers would be fine. In terms of blanco I'd advise trying to work out what specific colour the unit you want to recreate was using, if this isn't possible I'd likely go for KG3 if doing a standalone or I'd seek to match others if reenacting as part of a group, in the interest of uniformity.

[@domhand7501]

Sleeping out In all weathers in wool uniform that soaks up water like a sponge must have been far from a barrel of laughs

[@ccbwook]

The point being, sodden enough to be sure, is the woolen stuff is that much more wind-proof when soaked; in a long-gone youth whilst whitewater kayaking, i used to don a Canadian lumberman's shirt under my farmer johns wet suit with exposed shoulders and arms under neoprene shoulder straps. With cuffs & collar buttoned I would then jump in the spring snow melt-water first crack out of the box & thoroughly soak my fool self before boating, whereupon with boots & mitts on I was, well, piss-warm. But, then, that was for fun of an admittedly rather masochistic sort & NOT for days & weeks on end! I can certainly imagine the stink & itch ... those were our dads, though & that was the real heroic bit they all shared in. come to that!

[@AlphawolfKing]

Have you ever thought of starting a discord server? For people to chat and talk about military stuff.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I have but I fear I'd have no time to be involved with it myself!

[@ccbwook]

The point being, sodden enough to be sure, is the woolen stuff is that much more wind-proof when soaked; in a long-gone youth whilst whitewater kayaking, i used to don a Canadian lumberman's shirt under my farmer johns wet suit with exposed shoulders and arms under neoprene shoulder straps. With cuffs & collar buttoned I would then jump in the spring snow melt-water first crack out of the box & thoroughly soak my fool self before boating, whereupon with boots & mitts on I was, well, piss-warm. But, then, that was for fun of an admittedly rather masochistic sort & NOT for days & weeks on end! I can certainly imagine the stink & itch ... those were our dads, though & that was the real heroic bit they all shared in. come to that!

[@lib556]

Good stuff.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks.

[@ryanhamdyl2692]

Sorry, but I'm not as knowledgeable in this, but did the BEF still wear the early WW1 service cap with the P37 battledress. I do know some still wear the Service dress with service caps and P37 equipment during 1939.

[@ridge2542]

The cap worn during the late 30s was either the New Specification Service Dress cap, which looks similar to the ww1 style, or the Field Service cap (side cap). Both caps were seen worn with Battledress Serge (often mislabeled Pattern 37 battledress) during the phoney war and battle for France in the ‘39-‘40 period.

[@logancote717]

Can you make a video on why some ww2 helmets have holes drilled close to the chin strap mounts

[@RiflemanMoore]

Well I can tell you why, it's to mark some helmets as being made of lower grade steel than that suitable for military use. If you google I believe there is a website detailing this.

[@mortegi]

Hi..... your videos remind me of BBC Open Univercity TV programmes shown in the 1970's.....all ways hosted by some geeky Professor.....lol

[@Ks-zv6js]

Do you know what boot they would have had In the Irish war of independence

[@apollo8972]

Potato skin ones I believe.

[@longrider42]

Yes, the winter of 44, 45, was as most know who have studied that time period was a Brutally cold winter. And another great video.

[@davidbrennan660]

Bit chilly in 39/40 as well.

[@drno4837]

the most interesting uniform dictat for the British army was issued by Montgomery in the western desert circa 1943, on seeing a jeep pass bye him with a driver naked except for a black top hat, who to be fair saluted him properly, he issued the following, "TOP hats will NOT be worn in 8th army", the salute was the required guards brigade salute for a guards officer wearing a top hat and consisted of him grasping the brim in the right hand and lifting the hat off his head to an angle of 45 degrees. and not returning the hat until the salute is returned.