Mannequin of the Month - British Soldier, Jungle Warfare Training, Belize, Late 1970s

[@KTM-xz9qj]

First guy I treated in Belize was a guy who was hit in the face by a prismatic compass his mate was swinging about. Just went down hill from there... I remember getting a 44 pattern mug and holder. Still have them both in the " man cave "

[@RiflemanMoore]

Someone else mentioned that but they weren't carried in the photos I based this on.

[@campbellbrand8038]

Still got my tropical shirt, trousers and jungle boots from Belize 1983

[@mikel6517]

Me too from 1990, one of the few bits I kept them and a smock

[@pfcparts7728]

Planning on doing any SADF kits like Angola or Namibian bush war? Would be interesting to see a comparison to other commonwealth equipment like NZ or Aussie gear.

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

Aussie gear is easy. Alice gear, belt suspenders bumpack/fannypack waterbottles. Ammo pouches similar size to ones in this vid, because we still used SLR and BREN right into late 80s.

[@estianburger8842]

I am a South African. I have been thinking of starting a channel to showcase SADF kit, especially paratrooper kit.

[@jakebrowncollection1772]

Awesome as always

[@davidbrennan660]

Junglese! The “bright” combats illuminate dark rooms.

[@rubberduckindustries6665]

What were those ammunition pouches made for? They seem ridiculously huge.

[@tomsoki5738]

I think your camera settings are a bit off for that background

[@RiflemanMoore]

Indeed, still using the camera on my phone, I am hoping to have a new camera soon which will, once I'm used to it, improve things markedly.

[@neilcastell6951]

you forgot the golock /machete, i saw on with a 1965 date the other day. also .. which boots were in use?

[@RiflemanMoore]

I didn't forget, it just wasn't included in the kit I was replicating! As for the boots, the photos in the series this mannequin is based on show standard DMS boots and puttees.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

I believe in Belize 1975 that we wore a green canvas type high top boot with a black sole on it?. We wore green OG uniforms, the pants had that weight lose buckle system you showed in another video. not sure if they had any DPM there at the time. I know I’m weird I loved the jungle, loved Cambodia in 1993 with the Canadian forces/UN too.💂‍♂️🪖⛑️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@mh53j]

Why don't British boonie hats have a chinstrap sewn in like the US ones do? Find it a bit annoying to have to find a piece of cord and some type of adjustment device to fit to it. Also read somewhere the bright colors of jungle DPMs was due to not properly adjusting the dye formulas being used when dyeing cloth with a higher polyester content-- cotton and cotton/polyester dye differently. These bright colors, especially the brown, seem to be most prevalent on early issue uniforms, later versions matched the temperate versions a bit closer.

[@sarahstone6515]

1 Stafford's was first unit to be issued with camouflage lightweight clothing in July 77 whilst being deployed on spearhead all webbing was 58 pattern not 44 , I only come across 44 pattern in boy soldiers although there were alot of 44 pattern mugs and water bottles / steel in use

[@RiflemanMoore]

Interesting information on the initial issue of the tropical combat uniform, thanks for that. As I say the photos this is referenced from, including that used for the thumbnail of the video show 1944 Pattern in use. Unfortunately the specific unit was not specified.

[@SafetyProMalta]

No.9 dress...Gucci kit.

[@dialyt1309]

Was completely unaware there was a 44 Pattern web set. Was it retained so long because it was viewed as a better set in tropical conditions?

[@willjohnson1273]

Lighter hence why retained for Gurkha use and possibly a reason for retention with Airborne units, also Gurkha units were mainly based in Hong Kong and the general region at this time.

[@davidbrennan660]

It was being used up in its designed theatre, given that bugs and rot eat your webbing when you are playing water babies.

[@mh53j]

44 pattern didn't retain as much water when wet

[@willjohnson1273]

Surprised no Golok on the Belt even if in a teaching session.

[@krismakardikan9823]

I read somewhere on the Internet that that particular golok was affectionately called the "tree beater". About 10 years ago I bought one and learned the monicker was not undeserved. My former fiancee stole it shortly afterwards. I don't miss it, and I don't miss her. Now I carry a Martindale No. 4.

[@mattpierre891]

Dude, what's the deal with the new background? It makes the shot look out of focus.

[@grantlancaster9051]

He moved. It doesn't look out of focus to me, just kinda washed out and desaturated

[@seniorscouse1984]

Did they have flak vest

[@williamfalcon7351]

your missing a number of pouches , kidney pouches, issued waterbottle pouches

[@RiflemanMoore]

You are referring to components of 1958 Pattern, this is 1944 Pattern. The two sets of equipment were sometimes mixed but not in this instance.

[@williamfalcon7351]

@@RiflemanMoore Nobody in Belize wore 1944 pattern webbing,

[@RiflemanMoore]

Not so, if you drop me an email I'll happily link you to some photographs taken in 1978 in which every man is wearing 1944 Pattern web equipment.