Wearing and Carrying the British Mk VII Ground Sheet - Reenacting Tips

[@laurentdevaux5617]

At last I found a good tutorial about the way to fold correctly my ground sheet. I bought one, with all the stuff of a Normandy campaign Tommy, nearly 30 years ago but still didn't know how to manage it (though it seems I wasn't so wrong...). So thanks mate, the hardest part now is to really fold it as mine is a genuine WW2 one, and a little stiff...

[@grahamhorne6956]

Thank you that's a fabulous demo. I'm not a reenactor but I do love old school kit. I have the SoF offering which I really like. I wear this with over trousers underneath when I'm just out and about. Lovely bit of kit and good for general use.

[@ZvZd]

The Dutch Army used a copy of this into the late 1980s, only difference was it was green. Great video as always

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you! I think the Dutch examples were copied off the post-war British green canvas exmaples. I think I might actually have one in the loft somewhere, a dutch example that is.

[@SovietArmyGuy]

As i own one, i wanted to say that this video was very usefull , especialy of the folding tutorial. Thanks sir

[@datsunlambchops4624]

I have always wanted one. So i ordered and got it today. Excellent

[@thehistoadian]

Really great and educational video! Just got one of these reproductions for Christmas and can't wait to use it

[@RiflemanMoore]

Excellent!

[@Pmcmahon99020407]

I am interested in replacing the black buttons of my WPG raincape. Where can I buy (or see close up pictures of original buttons to guide me. Also, what size are originals?

[@Gregorio-w1z]

Do you have any measurements could use to replicate/sew this Ground Sheet / Rain Coat ?

[@1896JJM]

Useful tip - I shall be purchasing one of these!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Definitely worth buying. A really practical and useful bit of reenacting kit. I am hopeful What Price Glory might start manufacturing the earlier Mk VI and V ground sheets at some point.

[@michaelmackenzie790]

Many thanks, that's a much better method than the one I was using! They still made them post war albeit in green instead.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Indeed so, in the same rough textured canvas as the tan examples. It's interesting with the changes that the Mark designation never advanced further.

[@slapout9]

Almost as.if you read my mind. Thank you so much for doing this! I Do have another question exactly how did UK troops put their ammo into their pouches and then get it out? How much do the pouches hold? Love your channel!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Certainly something we can look at in the future but as a guide the average rifleman carried two Bren magazines in one pouch, a 50 round bandolier of ammunition and a couple of grenades in the other.

[@slapout9]

@@RiflemanMoore Thank you

[@NgaMarsters]

Just watched a so called historian get mad at a video game where characters wore these because he thought they were capes. :/

[@tacticalbadger5196]

What are the dimensions of the cape? I’ve been trying to find information to try and make my own but haven’t had much luck :P

[@xirensixseo]

is there any chance you could measure it so i could make my own one?

[@iac4357]

78"x36" exclusive of the cape portion & collar, that you see @ 5:50 on the Diagram.

[@Acemans]

I got myself one thanks to this video thanks

[@Acemans]

Only thing is that my head is too big and the button is too tight across my face

[@knutzzl]

These are very similar to the capes used by the Dutch army in the 50s-70s

[@farpointgamingdirect]

Interesting stuff; and I see you're a gamer as well 👍

[@kevinofishero]

Another great video.. I see lot's of postwar versions on eBay. Are these acceptable for reenacting due to the colour? Or better find a repro which I presume are Brown?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Green is post war, pick up a repro. I do discus these more in the video dealing with 1937 Pattern haversack contents.

[@kevinofishero]

Rifleman Moore Thanks... your videos are a Godsend for someone putting together their first kit. I’m a fan :)

[@jameskellard5075]

We were issued a green version of this in the Marine cadets 1976-77. OK for wearing but useless for making a shelter, the "new" poncho was light years ahead.

[@dazzabrakes9729]

i've a plain green canvas one printed on the inside 1965? issued to looe (cornwall) a,c,f

[@RiflemanMoore]

Interesting, very late date if so. More likely 1955?

[@dazzabrakes9729]

@@RiflemanMoore defo 1965? printed clear as day...... hanging in wardrobe, ya know anyone that wants it? cost me £2.00 so if they pay post its free to good home..

[@michealohaodha9351]

Apologies for digging up this old video Simon, a quick question if I may. I recently got my hands on a similar Ground sheet for my British impression but of a green colour. Unfortunately the makers stamp has become very faded over the decades and is practically illegible. I believe that it is [post-war but I was wondering if could add anything. Were all wartime examples of brown colour? Do you know of any change to green in the post war period? Many thanks

[@RiflemanMoore]

The change to green appears to have occurred in the early '50s. The brown rubberised examples are early WW2, followed by tan examples which are the same material/construction as the green, just differing in colour. A couple of wartime examples are considered in this video; kzbin.info/www/bejne/qna5iWt_pcSgr80

[@michealohaodha9351]

@@RiflemanMoore many thanks

[@davidbrennan660]

I have a rectangle shaped Ground sheet in tan and one in the dark brown rubberised material both early to mid Forties dated, was this model used with the Fighting Order? My Mk 7 is in tan mid Forties dated.

[@davidbrennan660]

That I do, I value my kit.

[@tobyvic19]

Great video as per usual Any chance you could do a video of how to fold a great coat into the large pack many thanks toby

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'll see what I can do!

[@tobyvic19]

Brilliant thank you

[@davidbrennan660]

That is a mystic art.

[@davidalexander8649]

In my day (where they issued Poncho’s), but these where still hanging around they where called ‘Gas Capes’.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Gas capes are a different beast entirely, much thinner and made of linseed-impregnated cloth, they also have sleeves. Perhaps some confusion at the time?

[@broadswordcallingdannyboy5620]

When did the green coloured ground sheets come into service?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Post-war, as far as I'm aware, all the examples I have seen have been dated early to mid 1950s.

[@arikhmunario3146]

Where can I buy this reproduction british MKVII tommy rain cape ?

[@alexvendomegardner8931]

I know soldier of fortune have them but last time I checked they where out of stock

[@arikhmunario3146]

@alexvendomegardner8931 Thank you, much appreciated for the kind info.

[@thefootsoldier1736]

Nice! Thanks for the Information.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'm glad you found it informative!

[@MichaelR58]

Thanks for sharing !

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@petesheppard1709]

Interesting contrast to a Yank...a ground sheet that can be worn as rain gear, as compared to a poncho that can be seconded as a ground sheet...

[@RiflemanMoore]

That would change progressively in the 1950s and by the 1960s Britain had also switched to a poncho, very similar to the US example.

[@je710817]

As a dutch soldier i use the Dutch version up til 1990 😁 with the same webbing ....

[@TrueFork]

Did these come in different sizes? I have a green one (I think Dutch) but it seems made for a pencil-necked child, both the "shoulder" and the collar are quite small...

[@AmerigoMagellan]

So, in what year they started calling it a "pancho"?

[@RiflemanMoore]

It was never referred to as a poncho as it isn't a poncho.

[@AmerigoMagellan]

@@RiflemanMoore Sorry, I misspelled poncho... It does looks very much like a poncho... a very fancy one of that.

[@SteveSmith-gs7fy]

Are these able to be blancoed?

[@guerrillashadowman]

It’s my understanding that the commando’s didn’t typically wear helmets in battle, I guess they were just made of tough stuff and didn’t mind getting wet, and probably had no use for a rain cape. So for re-enactment purposes can I get away with breaking tradition and use a helmet and rain cape or just tough it out and keep with realism?

[@RiflemanMoore]

It depends on the specific operation, it wasn't that uncommon for Commandos to wear helmets, the raid on St Nazaire being a good example.

[@manofharlech5775]

Mystery solved, thanks alot... :)

[@RiflemanMoore]

What mystery?

[@manofharlech5775]

@@RiflemanMoore How to fold the ground sheet properly... :)

[@RiflemanMoore]

Ahah! Excellent.

[@davidbrennan660]

It is better than nothing...about right.