Mannequin of the Month - Private, 6th Airlanding Brigade, Operation Varsity, 1945

A run through the kit of a British infantryman of 6th Airlanding Brigade during Operation Varsity, 1945.
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[@jamesross1799]

Until he died in 2015 I used to maintain the garden of a really lovely guy called irvin who had been in the 6th airborne and had landed at Hamelkin in a hamilcar along with 5 other men and 2 Bren carriers I think he said. He was a close friend of my grandad who had been Royal marines. I really miss talking to those blokes.

[@jjrider6758]

The earlier leather chinstrap version of the Airborne Troops helmet was the most commonly worn on D-Day, but there are period photographs of at least a few of the webbing chinstrap version being used alongside them. Most notably, period photos of three members of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry taken after they had been relieved on D-Day (one of them is carrying a 'liberated' German MP40) and one of them is wearing a webbing chinstrap HSAT.. I believe at least one of them is also carrying the Sten magazine bandolier.. I think the Webbing chinstrap HSAT must be one of the longest lived patterns of steel helmet worn by the British military, being issued from 1944 right up until the issue of the M76 Parachutist's helmet, as seen during the Falklands conflict..

[@Mark-fw8pd]

Very interesting. I learn a lot from your videos.

[@mabbrey]

great stuff RM

[@mr.stotruppen8724]

Unrelated to the video's topic, but I was curious: When would you say that brightly polished, black lace-up combat boots started to become the norm in western militaries? Was everyone just copying the Americans when they switched in the 50s or was it also the norm elsewhere prior to WW2? That whole era of religiously polished black boots seems like an unusual blip in the broader scheme of things (rough out and tan/brown being the norm in both worlds wars unless you're German) but I admit I don't know a great deal about the details of whys and whens.

[@rjacob1857]

Very nice 😊

[@wbertie2604]

I used to collect WW2 US Army kit in the 1980s. I picked up a Dennison smock but got rid of it for about £20 as it wasn't my area. I thought I'd done well as I'd doubled my money. Watching this video I realise it was a first pattern.

[@ryanwisbey3387]

Didn't realise there was a debate on the validity of operation varsity. As ex para myself I maintain that if the ox and bucks didn't secure bridges or 9 para take Melville battery before the landings then it would have been a failure.

[@lachlanmayfield4599]

Your thinking of Overlord, Varisty was later in the war in 1945

[@andrewcombe8907]

Varsity was the crossing of the Rhine.

[@niono1587]

Hello Sir, sorry this question is unrelated to the video's subject but I'm in need of some help putting together an impression. I'm quite new to this and only out of convenience have I gone flogging my dosh at outdated militaria. Recently my mate lent me a shirt he says dates to the 1960s and I want to build off into something somewhat convincing. I've been able to source the same/similar shirts on various surplus sites that have it named as the "General Service Shirt." He's also in possesion of a Mk4 helmet which I'm planning to buy off him (though I'd like to opt for a bush hat or cap comforter if possible.) I just need help sourcing the matching equipment as I'm not familiar with the shirt or specific kit from this period. Do you have any videos covering this or know of any conflicts that might help me narrow it down? I'm mostly out for essentials but I'd still appreciate any extras!

[@jamesross1799]

The Denison looks too green. It looks more like a Belgian post war one to me . I'm no expert though did the coloration change slightly post market?

[@robertstallard7836]

He showcased it in a previous video. It's 1948 dated but definitely British and not Belgian, as per the label. I stand to be corrected on this, but I believe the Belgian ones lacked the collar lining also had a slightly deeper opening at the front that went down to the press studs.