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

First 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

[@andyd27]

William lennon do a very good repro ammo boot, a bit pricey but very accurate!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Ah, I wasn't aware they were making them now, I only knew of their B5s. I've just taken a look and they do indeed look very good, as expected, but as you say very expensive!

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

I had a pair of ammo boots and was constantly slipping over. Traded them for rubber soles.

[@Yandarval]

@@grahamthebaronhesketh. Ammo boots need lots of practice to prevent that. Tarmac and Ammo boots are not a good combo. I recall landing on my arse during my own promotion ceremony.

[@Tmilitaria]

@@RiflemanMoore I believe for early war you could use puttees.

[@croixdeguerre]

I am french but y understand the majority of the vidéo ! That's a cool guide to start in british reenactings, thank you for doing a little series !

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'm glad you found it interesting!

[@Ks-zv6js]

My uncle billy who did national service used to talk about burnishing boots with a hot spoon basically ironing out the grain

[@RiflemanMoore]

It's still common practice for parade boots as far as I'm aware.

[@ZvZd]

Very well done as always, looking forward to the next!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Many thanks, I'll hopefully have the next part up next week.

[@edtheriper5522]

Absolutely stunning video, and a perfect idea for a series. I've been struggling to know just what to buy, so this series will help no end.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you found it useful, part 2 should be up before the weekend in theory!

[@paulwhent1370]

Really enjoyed this , it’s been hard finding correct issue equipment for British forces

[@andrewjohnston4127]

Excellent video with some great tips

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks, glad you found it interesting.

[@eanschaan9392]

I was looking at the hats and thought to myself, "Oh! I could possibly try sewing some of those types of caps," before I looked up the price of khaki wool gabardine. That is some expensive stuff.

[@morasboy]

Unfortunately, owner of Panther Store died few months ago and production wont go onwards...

[@kevthedev9541]

The Panther Store Battledress patterns have now been taken over by WPGCE but to be honest, the quality is NOT as good as the Panther made items. Back in the 1980s when I was a sprightly (fit) teenage re-enactor, original BDs were more readily available and finding a suit of size 16 BDs wasn't really an issue, in fact my local surplus store in the Walthamstow (London) High Street had bales of both relatively cheaply. The one thing I do find with modern repro BDs are the trouser seats. The modern 'arse' is considerably wider than those of the 1940s but still repro uniform makers go to older patterns that frankly can look ridiculous on a modern re-enator now, even when made to measure. Hopefully, one day someone will get it right?

[@morasboy]

As I have size 12 I simply throw away an idea of finding pre-1980 ammo boots in wearable condition and (with heavy heart) wearing modern pair in smooth finished leather. Anyways, very good video as usual! :) Thanks for your work!

[@Thomachi]

Great video as always! Haven't gone into too serious reenactment yet, so i use a pair of post-war ankle boots as a stand-in until i can find ammo boots that fit my big, wide, scandinavian feet.

[@RiflemanMoore]

When you say post-war ankle boots do you mean DMS?

[@Thomachi]

@@RiflemanMoore Ah sorry, should have been more specific. They are norwegian M66 boots with rubber sole, cutouts for ski bindings and without the toe-cap.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Understood. I've just been informed a company named Willian Lenon is now making accurate reproductions which might suit your needs. Expensive but they will last you a lifetime knowing Lenon's quality.

[@Thomachi]

@@RiflemanMoore Thanks for the tip! Will look into it

[@BSProductionsO7]

I've just started out with British WW2 gear, and I've been using a pair of my dad's old Royal Navy boots which appear the same as ammo boots in almost every way, however they lack the additional toe cap, and press studs in the sole. Just curious how appropriate they are, although I will probably use them for a while anyway to avoid the cost of replacing them, it would be good to be informed! (I will say having just found your videos they're immensly useful and interesting, I find all the little details of the design and purpose of equipment facinating)

[@MichaelR58]

Thanks for sharing

[@RiflemanMoore]

No worries!

[@ThinkingMadeVisual]

Man I think I lucked out with my first purchase into this hobby, just got some unworn (made in Britain, pebblegrain etc.) ammo boots like you show for £12... :O It feels a shame to wear them. Though this will be offset by the price of austerity battledress from panther :l I'm thinking of cycling across Normandy this june in gear. Keep the vids coming, they are proving useful for sure!

[@RiflemanMoore]

I understand what you mean about the boots, when are they from, do you know? Enjoy the bike ride!

[@ThinkingMadeVisual]

They are made by Tebbutt and Hall Ltd but the stamped lettering is impossible to read inside. There doesn't seem to be much info on these guys other than they started in 1902 and haven't been in business for something like two decades at least.

[@RiflemanMoore]

A very nice thing to have, it's up to you whether you wear them or not but I'd be tempted to suggest keeping your eyes out for another pair to wear and keep these in their unworn condition.

[@1896JJM]

Just noticed WPG (and SoF I believe) are now selling FS caps in Barathea wool. Not 100%, but an improvement from serge...

[@RiflemanMoore]

To a degree, fine for officers.

[@AustrianTommy]

As you didn't mention them seperatly...do the trousers have normal side pockets, too? Hace you ever seen a pattern37 repro from Nestof? If so, what do you think of it? Greetings from Austria!

[@1896JJM]

Really enjoying your recent videos! I've been meaning to ask; where did you get your mannequin? It's particularly hard to find one of decent size to fit smaller uniform pieces

[@RiflemanMoore]

It came off eBay, it just about fits size 10 battledress if that gives any indication? I have five of them, torsos only, I think they cost about £25 each delivered and there was a choice of wood and covering colour.

[@garywheble4534]

Remind people that there are two other sets of boots you mite get confused with one is very rare the other the cardboard wonder the DMS the other is a cross between the shape of the Ammo Boot with not toe protector or heel and has rubber souls these were issued to troops of the Maritime Artillery who worked on DEMS Defence Equipped Merchant Ships the reason was they worked on munition ships and Tankers whith high octain aviation fuel and other petroleum products no sparks please or static build up in metals hence no toe or heel protection eyelets were brass no gates but puttys

[@Tmilitaria]

When did the leather gaiters / anklets come in for use? You said later on during the war, do you know when? Thank you.

[@kaynebartholomew2994]

I have a repro FS cap from What Price Glory that's a very fine wool but is unfortunately not gaberdine. They also label theirs as "enlisted" and "officer's" based on the wool they're using. Just a hint or tip for anyone shopping on WPG here in the States.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for sharing, good for people to hear feedback ahead of buying.

[@TheVulgarSkill]

Thank you for this. Not really any British units in my part of the US so I've been wanting to get together a solo impression of No. 3 or No. 10 commando. Do you have any thoughts on which uniform pattern would be appropriate? Also, I saw in my research the commandos used boots with rubber soles as opposed to hobnails. Is that correct?

[@l.cressey6806]

I believe the rubber-soled boots were known as Boots SV and were indeed issued to commandos.

[@raseli4066]

Is there any large differences for the uniforms used in italy in the later war period?

[@unkownuser1994]

I got a question about the overseas bars, can I email you about it? (Or somethung like that)

[@neilmurray1359]

Hi how do you measure for the correct size anklets ?

[@user-rr6oz9qi1m]

wow

[@paulholloway1447]

Still cannot, get a field service can my size.need 734

[@benbabouche7849]

Helo, instructive viedeo! Is there a sizing chart available for collarles shirt like the batteldress one? When i search original collarless shirt i a lost.

[@RiflemanMoore]

There are numbered sizes but I'm not aware of a published size chart I'm afraid.

[@wafflyfox7550]

is scottish black watch the same, just with a kilt?

[@thebudge9972]

Where can I get cheap wwii british battledress?

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

I'm a bit sad that Panther Store is no longer around.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Their BD is still prodiced by What Price Glory Central Europe.

[@kromoism]

What would the variations be for Canadians, French, and Poles?

[@RiflemanMoore]

That's beyond the scope of this channel really and certainly more than can be answered in a youtube comment! I'd suggest searching out some reading material on the matter.

[@KermitTheGamer21]

The Free French used mostly American equipment rather than British. Canadian equipment was mostly the same, though they had a slightly different way of wearing their gear than a typical British soldier. I don't know enough about the Polish units to say in that regard.

[@russbooth6766]

Can you post a link for the company that make the battledress khaki pls?

[@michealohaodha9351]

Unfortunately that company (Panther-store) is no longer make British stuff, as off July 2019 or so I've heard.

[@russbooth6766]

@@michealohaodha9351 just seen this thank you bud!

[@broadswordcallingdannyboy5620]

Was 44 pattern webbing issues in the NW Europe theater of ops?

[@RiflemanMoore]

No, not during the war. It didn't really see any service until after the war although there are photos of it in use in training in the UK in mid 1945.

[@andrewjohnston4127]

I heard that it was issued to the airborne forces in anticipation of them being sent to the far east. They were sent to Norway instead but kitted out with 44 pattern webbing.

[@andrewjohnston4127]

This was in 45 though

[@allenprior8573]

Andrew Johnston a common myth. The first troops to receive 1944 pattern webbing were 5th Parachute Brigade (6th Airborne Div) who were destined for Malaya. However, the troops who went to Norway were 1st Airborne Div. I think the misunderstanding has arisen because some troops in Norway can be seen wearing the Mk III pouch with QR fastenings which have been misinterpreted as 1944 pattern pouches.

[@Ks-zv6js]

How would I iron battledress ??

[@RiflemanMoore]

I use a regular steam iron.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Rifleman Moore ok thanks

[@Someloke8895]

Surely Step 1 is Invade France?

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

How could the British army wear such awful uniforms?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Battledress is actually a pretty practical uniform, by the standards of the time. The Germans basically introduced their own version during the course of the war.