BRITISH JUNGLE & JAPANESE INFANTRY WW2

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

What a great display - my paternal grandfather was a Bren gunner in the Burma campaign, and it's great to see how he was dressed and equipped. It certainly ties in with all the stories he told me about the uniform and equipment problems they experienced in the jungle. Museum-quality displays!

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks that’s a great compliment coming from you I’m subscribed to your channel 👍

[@mattskustomkreations]

Cool to see Dr. F commenting on another YT channel.

[@ClancyWoodard-yw6tg]

How awesome is it to see Mark Felton over here I love watching your videos you talk about stories that I have never heard of and I've been a history buff a long time

[@robertrobert7924]

My Uncle fought in the Pacific. I promised him I would never buy a Japanese car, and I never did. I am a big fan of the Australian defense of Port Moresby and the Kokodo Track. US Army 1968-1971. I own and shoot an Aussie Mk III .303 rifle and it is a tack driver. I hope to take it to the range this week when the weather gets cooler. Excellent presentation and collection.

[@militarymad2840]

Those men who fought out there were something special

[@MisakiMusashi]

Thank you for making a video on the Imperial Japanese army, it is very informative to learn about their Uniforms in history since not many people tend to talk about it. Hope to see more!

[@militarymad2840]

Will be doing a Japanese tank crew and air crew coming up on a couple of weeks 👍

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Another amazing collection and display! Thank you for sharing!

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks for keeping on watching

[@morgangallowglass8668]

@@militarymad2840 , my pleasure and will do!

[@CodyandSteveDownUnder]

an outstanding video on so many levels old mate, not the least of which is that magnificent Bren gun. This really is visiting a virtual military museum my friend, brilliant

[@militarymad2840]

When I was younger I always wanted to open a museum but the was never going to happen so this is even better now people all over the world can see it, the next one may be of interest to you it’s an early Aussie uniform

[@edenjamesart6880]

Militaria collector from Australia here, absolutely love your videos mate and I can't wait for the next one with the Australian infantry!, I actually collect ww2 gear from Sweden. I definitely recommend having a look at their gear because its absolutely beautiful. Cheers mate -Eden

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks I will have a look all these other countries get over looked 😊

[@nizammahmadi2963]

Great collection. I assume WW2 boots design were all have those steel studs. That's scary especially when the soldiers step on someone with that.

[@alexradojkovic9671]

I wonder how many wore size 5 boots 😁

[@panzerman9247]

I absolutely love your videos.

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks some are better than others but think I’m getting better than the early ones 👍

[@ClancyWoodard-yw6tg]

You're absolutely right when you talk about the Pacific the campaign in the far East is almost overlooked because you had generals out there like the US army's general Stillwell this is another great display

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks very much

[@TP-ie3hj]

So you are truly able to say "Thats me bren gun" with the actual accent and a real Bren gun......so awesome.

[@militarymad2840]

👍

[@ChrisfurrsMilitaria1941]

Fantastic collection you've put together. The text on the Japanese public service bag lists the contents. The items are Military Paybook(guntaitecho), decorations, medals/badges/insignia Certificates of qualifications, military specialist certificates Mobilization or call-up order And Other things such as savings record books, etc and things related to preparation for the draft or recognized as needed for the draft.

[@militarymad2840]

👍thanks

[@gamerhistorian7843]

IJA boots need leather grease and you need the Juban undershirt.

[@militarymad2840]

👍

[@chrisleach3958]

I don’t know about the British uniform, but it sure looks like a lovely example of an Australian uniform designed for work in the tropics

[@militarymad2840]

It is the same but my next video is the Australian uniform for early War so they will get there mention there 👍

[@chrisholland7367]

The uniform could be that of a 'Chindit' The Chindits were the brain child of a British major Orde Wingate. The Chindits were made up of Australians, British and Gurhkas. They made deep penetrative missions into Burma into Japanese held territory. The raids had mixed success. Many Chindits that were wounded were left behind with a gun and water. Those who made it out of Burma and into India were too ill to fight again . The US army had a specialist unit called Merrills Mauraders, who also spent time in Burma fighting the Japanese.

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

Another great video....id never seen the british boots, so an education for me. I used to have one of those machetes but without the scabbard, brit one, i found it in the stores on a job i was on and i recognised it for what it was, ive traded it out since. The empty case bag is a nice additon , is your bren dry fire/old spec?. The Japanese display is as always really good...i have zero, ha ha get the pun?, Japanese kit apart from some die cast models, i do often look out for binos though. Read a book!?....most folk dont realise much about the world unfortunately....things happening now how happened before, maybe in other countries , but theyve happened. Ive got a 'book of the year 1969' its full of what was happening, violence, environmental disasters , air crashes , wars, disease, riots, crime....etc, bleeding etc.....nothing changes. Imagine those especially british and commonwealth troops, a lot coming from small towns and never been abroad before.....next thing its the jungle and Japanese soldiers screaming 'banzai!'.....it must of been like fighting on another planet....anyway great thought provoking video....keep up the good work 😊😊😊😊

[@militarymad2840]

The Bren does dry fire had it a long time and had to say something about all these social justice warriors today always moaning about colonialism and every body being left out,there stories have always been out there they just need to look, seek and ye shall find, thanks for the comments 👍

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

@@militarymad2840 yes indeed I've had similar things said to me...why do you collect this or that.....too many people today, old and young, live in the now or 5 years either side and no bugger all about history and mankind....did I ever point you in the direction of an old 1960s documentary called 'Africa addido' ?.....if not , watch it , its absolutely eye opening, violent and I had no idea..its surreal in parts and tounge in cheek in others but should be on tv now to educate people to the horrors and problems when societies break down....I will try to send a link on here, might work, might not, cheers 🙂🙂

[@johnwelch6490]

I still have my dad's Akruba hat from Korea. He was a American 24th Infantry Division Liaison for the First Royal Australian Regiment in his area of the DMZ white tape border.

[@militarymad2840]

Hope you are going to keep it

[@Hacpoa.137]

Would they have worn entrenching pouches? Im asking because im making one of these uniforms oug of cardboard and im wondering if i need more fabric

[@KonradAdenauerJr]

The Japanese leather ammo pouches tended to deteriorate in tropical climate, so they were later replaced by pouches made of rubberized canvas. The length of the Arisaka rifle is noteworthy, given that the average Japanese soldier back then was five-foot-three (160 cm) tall.

[@militarymad2840]

Yes most kit did not last long out there

[@jjrider6758]

Your British boots form part of the 1944 pattern Jungle Uniform and Equipment - The '44 pattern was not widely issued in the Far East theatre until well after the end of hostilities, I believe only the British 5th Parachute Brigade were issued with '44 pattern Jungle Equipment at the very end of hostilities when they were transferred to the Far East theatre after the end of the war in Europe.. The standard footwear worn by British/Indian/Gurkha/African 14th Army troops throughout the Far East campaign was the standard British pattern Ammunition boots of either British or Indian manufacture, these were usually black but some brown boots were manufactured in India..

[@militarymad2840]

👍

[@jeffreyhansen2806]

I just finished reading a book about the U.S. 1st Air Commandos who delivered tons and tons of medical supplies, ammunition, food, etc., etc. to the troops in the CBI while evacuating the sick and wounded. Slim and Mountbatten heaped praise on the pilots and ground crews who kept the whole operation enabled.

[@militarymad2840]

Yes it was all down to them really how things turned out

[@soultraveller5027]

Yes, quite correct sir the the supply drops were the key factor in the fightback against the japaneses forces push towards the indian border and beyond through Burma , The british 14th army known as the (forgotten army ) mostly indian troops with british troops and gurkhas soldiers , now under new leadership field marshal slim consider the best general ever in the british army in ww2 his portrait Hangs in the hall of the british army officer training college Sandhurst Then general slim was charged with bringing up and reshaping the battered 14th army after severe maulings from japanese forces being pushed back outmaneuvered time and time again by the japaneses tactics of outflanking and surrounding the enemy, thus cut off they panicked and fought through to india .to where they stood and fought back at Imphal and Kohima under generaL slims orders there was to be no more retreat he held firm and defended these strategically important positions with aid coming from air drops and other means. They, fought a hellish war of unprecedented brutality and savagery not experienced by british/india forces by the japanese soldiers the allies ,i fought hand to hand combat, close quarters there was no mercy no quarter was given by both sides there was no surrendering the british were shocked by the ferocity of the japanese and willingness to throw their lives away in there Banzai suicide attacks and later the cruelty towards unlucky captured allied soldiers when they later came across their bodies was sickening. When, Slim ordered an offence to drive the japanese back and devised new tactics instead of retreating in panic when outflanked by japaneses , Slim ordered his forces to stay put he would resupply his army by air drops denying the japanese superior jungle skills and await a counter attack by british forces who now had tanks heavy artillery and aircraft the japanese lost thousands and thousand due to lack of water food diseases and constant attack from ground forces and air of all the british commanders in ww2 none was loved more by his troops then field marshall slim they would literally go anywhere under his command a man of humble beginnings and started as a common soldier in ww1 ,he fought in Gallipoli awarded the military cross and given a temporary commision a soldier's soldier my great grandad fought under slim in the 14th army his regiment was the 2nd Bn. the king's own light infantry (he was awarded the burma star unbeknown to us and other medals he never said anything ) on ,his return to britain where he would be turned back into a civilian again going through all the army and civilian procedures known as ''Demob'' in british slang , i don't remember that much about him or his war experience he never talked about it even when asked he was very quiet that said he and my father did talk together sometime as he also was in the army in the 1950s national service duty after he passed away my mother helped clear out his belongings and came across a box full of medals and ribbons never seen before stuffed in a big heavy woolen jacket a greatcoat even his wife never knew about them one was the burma star medal given to everybody who served in the burma campaign

[@militarymad2840]

@@soultraveller5027after what your great grandfather went through it’s no wonder he didn’t talk about it, a brave man

[@WWIIUK]

The water bottle was manufactured in South Africa and made by Maythams Ltd (a Metal Box Company subsidiary) which had factories in Cape Town and Johannesburg. As stated before the brown jungle boots were introduced with the clothing associated with the 1944 pattern Webb equipment, Bata made Ankle boots for the Indian army. But they tended, like the webbing, to rot quite quickly. Interestingly, at the beginning of the war with Japan, the Dutch East Indies had a higher priority for equipment than Burma. The Admin Box (5 to 23 February 1944) was the first time during the Burma Campaign that Allied forces were able to contain and defeat a major Japanese advace.

[@militarymad2840]

👍

[@davidbrennan660]

Fun fact.. The JIN and JIA had such disliked each other and had their own supply chains that the haversack though a common pattern has a belt clip to help support it and hold it in place , one has the clip doing behind the belt and one it clips over the front of the belt… it is branch specific..

[@militarymad2840]

They were a bit strange

[@davidbrennan660]

Excellent display of kit as ever MM.

[@KINGCRANK.Topsy-Turvy]

The flower of chrysanthemum specifically belongs to the emperor. I wound't quite say that's national ,but something as the symbol of allegiance to Tennou (emperor). Cherry blossom is the national flower instead.

[@militarymad2840]

They are both national flowers the chrysanthemum is on a Japanese passport

[@chenboy9452]

I am quite impressed by how much military equipment you have managed to amass, I am interested in starting my own military collection and was wondering if you have any suggestions or advice I could use in the future, if so that would be great.

[@militarymad2840]

I have been collecting for over 50 years back when I started things were a lot cheaper than they are now but eBay is a good place but you have to be careful the prices can be a bit inflated, I have had some good buys at Militaria auctions lately but when you bid don’t forget the extra for commission and postage on top but still one of the best places Militaria Fairs you can still get some bargains there but really you need to specialise on one area first start small the build up from there

[@chenboy9452]

@@militarymad2840 Thank you, I hope to keep this in mind.

[@JOHNWILLIAMS-v5w]

What material were the uniforms made of, they both generally look fairly similar but the putters of the Japanese are very familiar. The helmet would have been hard to wear, much more comfortable is the slouch hat, so typical and practical in the conditions. Very impressive, thank you for sharing.

[@militarymad2840]

Both uniforms are cotton but the puttees are wool

[@dellawrence4323]

I thought the attachment on the stock of the Bren was for use with the tripod when the weapon was used as an AA gun or in a fixed defensive position.

[@ericsissenwein3601]

My dad fought in New Guinea and might have met some Aussie soldiers there. I know he met some Japanese soldiers. He went on to invade the Philippines at Luzon island. The Japanese there fought until after the A bombs and Japan surrendered. 😮

[@militarymad2840]

That was some of the worst fighting out there and does get over looked

[@seanlander9321]

Given that Australians did most of the fighting in New Guinea, it’s highly likely he would have bumped into a few.

[@robertmunoz7543]

Khaki drill & jungle green?😳 Jman

[@seanlander9321]

It always surprises me the contrast of photos between Australian and British troops in the jungle campaigns. The Australians are very well dressed, while the British are for the most part shabby and disheveled.

[@militarymad2840]

Could be a cultural thing but they were always left short of equipment out there

[@seanlander9321]

@@militarymad2840 Which is also surprising because the wealth of India being so close and its surplus of cotton and leather meant that supplies should have been easy, whereas the Australians had to ship and fly everything thousands of miles from the industrial centres in their south.

[@Ruebenbayona]

Onoda didn’t escape into the jungle after the war he was already there during the war and stayed after the war and they were not aware Japan surrendered

[@militarymad2840]

I know that was his story but how could you live on an island for nearly 40 years not find another Japanese not hear the sound of gun fire or here planes dropping bombs or artillery fire and not know the War was over and some one had surrendered

[@soultraveller5027]

@@militarymad2840 i believe one of these japanese soldiers while hiding and surviving in the jungle lived near villagers and would sneak in and steal food or livestock on one occasion he was caught by a village local or startled and killed the the person and fled again into the jungle it was only though philippine authorities deciding to contact the japanese government and asked if the commanding officer who was in charge of area at the time and still alive to help and persuade this soldier to give up they found the officer in charge and flew him out to talk to his former soldier by playing the old radio broadcast of the japanese emperor Hirohito surrender declaration. he was asked why he didn't surrender he said he thought the were enemy tricks and to this day still insist they were i believe also the president of the Philippines at the time Ferdinand Marcos pardoned the japanese soldier his name was Hiroo Onoda of the killing

[@MichaelSaunders-y2m]

2 Uncles lie in graves in Burma RIP 😢

[@militarymad2840]

As I said in the video they were known as the forgotten army but what they did out there and the conditions they went through showed what special men they were and changed the whole course of the War and they were a part of that

[@belleriffraff]

Australians gave the Japanese their first defeat in 1942 in the New Guinra campaign, 2 years before that action in the Indian Burma action in 1944. You need to check history first before commenting.

[@militarymad2840]

Actions in 1942 didn’t stop the Japanese as I said this battle stopped their expansion and was the turning point of the War Reuters of London have named Kohima Britains greatest battle so it overshadows 1942

[@militarymad2840]

Also Dr Mark Felton left a very good comment on the video and never mentioned your point so that’s good enough for me 👍

[@MichaelSaunders-y2m]

No Australian troops served with the Chindits

[@militarymad2840]

Only a small ammount of British and Indian troops served in the Chindits but nearly 10,000 Australians did serve in the Burma campaign some being captured by the Japanese