WW2 British Army In NW Europe, The Basics Part III - Reenacting Tips

Third in a series recommending the best items to pick up when first starting out reenacting the British soldier of the Second World War with a focus on North West Europe.
/ riflemanmoore
/ riflemanmoore

[@firearmsaremagic]

It's such a shame people only care about German and US impressions, this needs more views. One question though, why haven't entrenching tools been covered in this series?

[@RiflemanMoore]

An excellent question. The 1939 Pattern was so short-lived and seems to have been used to such a limited extent I wouldn't consider it when suggesting basic starting kit. There are many other things I'd recommend seeking out first. As for the two-part tool reintroduced in 1941 I will be covering that in a 'beyond the basics' video. I'd consider it something to look out for once the items looked at so far have been accumulated unless you happen across one for a very good price of course. Obviously it's a lot more necessary than the 1939 Pattern for mid-war onwards as they were fairly universally carried but I would suggest looking to get uniform, basic web equipment and respirator haversack sorted first as the bare essentials when joining the hobby.

[@firearmsaremagic]

@@RiflemanMoore Thanks for the clarification. Would you consider doing a series like this on Great War impressions?

[@andysanger7723]

To right mate come on England man up!!!!!

[@madmeerkat1158]

Will be doing my first ww2 living history event this year. Your videos have been a valuable source of reference material. Many thanks!

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'm very glad to hear they have been of use, that's exactly what I was hoping for!

[@madmeerkat1158]

Have been putting together a ww2 uniform for the D-Day 75th in remembrance of my uncle, who was a sgt with 41 commando, Royal Marines, who landed and fought on Sword beach, June 6th 1944. I have his 2nd pattern Fairburn/Sykes fighting knife, his Smatchett and his green beret. Very proud of him!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Excellent, fantastic to hear that you have some of his original kit!

[@SteveFizz.40s]

Very interesting thanks, so easy to get it wrong and so hard to get it right. Trying to do BEF early 1940 at the moment

[@andrewjohnston4127]

Good place to look for respirators are car boot sales, I picked one up from a car booty last year. Good condition and nice and cheap. No harm in having a look.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Definitely, a good place to keep an eye out.

[@harryb8945]

I learn something new every time you upload. Out of interest how do store your G.S masks to protect from espestos?

[@RiflemanMoore]

The General Service Respirator filters are difficult to make safe, one way of limiting the egress of asbestos dust is to pour in a PVA solution and let it set.

[@harryb8945]

@@RiflemanMoore will give it a try. Currently have my filter rapid in a thick plastic bag and tapped up around the hose.

[@koroniarzzestogowzwoinski2015]

Exellent

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you!

[@longrider42]

I have the Light Anti Gas kit bag, but it appears to be green, is that normal?

[@MD_Films]

Yes

[@eldesso]

Do you rate the shoot and scoot assault jerkin? I want to make sure it is correct before I drop £140 on it.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I have never seen one so wouldn't like to comment. I would say I'd rate that way beyond the remit of basic kit and an item with very limited use!

[@ccameron9]

Was the No1 MK3 Lee Enfield used in ww2, if so what years was it used for?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Yes it was, I'd advise reading more widely on the subject to get a better answer than I could give you in a KZbin comment here. The Wikipedia page on Lee Enfields is proably a good starting point for basic information.

[@campbellbrand8038]

Absolutely, the Mk III or Mk III* was more common than the Mk IV until at least the middle of WWII and was still predominant in the Far East in 1945.

[@broadswordcallingdannyboy5620]

Is it best to 'blanco' the webbing or leave it?

[@andrewjohnston4127]

Best to blanco it for the wartime period you're portraying

[@RiflemanMoore]

Blanco, it is preferabble to try and find used webbing to re-blanco rather than blancoing unissued items. It's even better to try and pick up bits in the right colour, the two basic pouches in this video for example are still coated in original No. 97 blanco.

[@mattmagee180]

I assume one could delete the gas cape altogether for late war impressions?

[@eldesso]

Nope still used late war

[@mattmagee180]

@@eldesso well indeed but if the threat of gas was deemed low i assume, like the mask, it was seen an extra weight and done away with by the soldier.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Not really, they were an extremely useful item, often carried as a lighter weight alternative to the much heavier groundsheet cape for protection from the rain later in the war. Even in situations where the haversack was dispensed with for street fighting late in the war you tend to see the capes still strapped to the back of men's belts in period photographs, right through 1945.

[@thebuffs3794]

If you're looking for one WPG do Anti-Gas capes. I believe they cost about £50 which isn't bad when you look at original ones.

[@RiflemanMoore]

That's the type I recommend in the video.