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

Second part 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.
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/ riflemanmoore
www.karkeeweb.com/

[@scottchristie625]

Love these "back to basics" videos. Very helpful for those of us relatively new to this hobby. Thank you.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you're finding them interesting and informative.

[@AndrewDollman]

Great series of videos. The information for a new reenactor is invaluable as a reference. Thank you Rifleman Moore

[@davey2363]

Ugghhh…used 37 pattern until 58 was issued to us in the BAOR in 1976! Yes, still wearing 37 gaiters until 76. We were then issued puttees for our DMS boots. Heart breaking.

[@spm36]

You are correct regarding the helmet, my grandad was in the RA and was at Dunkirk in 1940, he had the same helmet throughout until demob in late 1945, I still have the helmet minus the inner👍

[@Romin.777]

I have originals, since it was reisued in the Dutch army. Just with an extra datestamp in it. The L straps also. When in service 1991 we still used this setup minus the ammopouches. Our canteen was basicly a U.S. WW2 one. Lots of kit left over i guess. ;))

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for the info! I've just started getting together some Dutch kit as you may have seen in more recent videos!

[@faeembrugh]

I was really into collecting militaria as a kid and used to have masses of this gear as it was readily available in the 70s and 80s in second hand clothes shops, charity shops and I was even given stuff by veterans. Sadly all sold about 25 years ago! I wonder what it would be worth now?

[@tobyvic19]

Great vid was wondering if you would do a small pack/ haversack contents video many thanks

[@RiflemanMoore]

I certainly will be doing in the future though that will probably be in a 'beyond the basics' series.

[@tobyvic19]

Ah that’s fair enough, also who do you re enact with ( what regiment)

[@RiflemanMoore]

All sorts and many periods, the group I am with, MECo, or Military Equipment Collectors are primarily collectors who also put on displays.

[@jasemac5391]

Very helpful Rifleman ;)

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you found it so!

[@davidbrennan660]

Getting long braces is best as the water bottle and its carrier sits better on your hip if it is not tight to the belt. Always wear the Small Pack ( l still wish it was called a Slightly larger pack” )as high on the back as you can.

[@borisjohnson9219]

What colour would you suggest for helmets post Dunkirk and up till the end of the war as I have got a helmet for restoration for reenactment but not sure what paint to get.

[@infantryS04]

Hey mate luv your stuff, can I ask 🤔 I'm from NZ and wanting to reenact the 28th Maori Battalion and I see the Maori in WW2 using 37 pattern pouches in photos, do you know if I can use Australian issue 37 pat pouches ? Or did they only use British issue pouches? Cheers mate 🤙

[@rkoopa_bro]

We’re there ever pouches that never had the hooks on the back?

[@Juup2003]

In have a webbing set with 2 cross straps without the loop to pass the right one trough. Both are loopless to say. The condition of them and color match though. I replaced one of them with a strap that does have the loop but it’s a lighter shade. Is 2 cross straps without the loop also correct for Normandy 1944 to 1945?

[@Andyb2379]

Do you have a North Africa set up?

[@DonDon-zm3vz]

would they’ll have used the P08 webbing in WW2 with the no4 mk 1 ?

[@darthsoldier6939]

I have a feeling the belt I ordered has blackened parts oof i was wondering why didn't i see that on ww2 examples i guess it doesn't matter much as i am putting a 50s impression together first and then ww2

[@RiflemanMoore]

Indeed, blackened fittings would be acceptable for the latter half of the 1950s.

[@jeffbirkmeyer9068]

Good video. I need a cork stopper for my british ww2 canteen any idea where I might find one. Origin or repro docent matter. Thanks jeff

[@RiflemanMoore]

Soldier of Fortune sell repros, originals come up on eBay fairly regularly.

[@sander7165]

I really like this series! What would be the correct colour for the mk2 helmet? And would all of them have a sand finish?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Plain painted metal is fine, camouflaging was carried out later in the war with nets and scrim. The colour does vary during the war I think but for early war (and there's no actual need to change it) the colour is the sludgy greeny brown colour you can see in the video.

[@sander7165]

@@RiflemanMoore okay ,thank you! I restored a 1941 (JSS) one in a green /brown finish without sand finish. Would this be correct?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Sounds good, yes.

[@sander7165]

@@RiflemanMoore okay, thank you very much!

[@kathryntaylor3516]

should my entrenching tool be on the back or left of my webbing. I have been told diffrent things by sertan people. thanks Harry

[@Bustamamgendut]

Is it true that in WW2 which British regular army troops would only carry 50 rounds of .303 for their Lee-Enfields or they also carry extra rounds for their rifle only. I only knows the info that they would carry 50 rounds of .303 in 5 round clip (5 rounds x 10 clips) and 2 magazine of Bren Gun per each troops.

[@Someone-ic5no]

I was wondering is there any mk1 p37 pouch still using durning 1944

[@RiflemanMoore]

It is possible although Mk Is were to be modified to Mk II specification. Obviously this didn't happen to all of them as some still exist in original condition.

[@Someone-ic5no]

@@RiflemanMoore Thanks for the answer mate, cause i'm thinking to buy a mk1 pouch so i can use it for 1939 to 1945 reenactment

[@RiflemanMoore]

Probably best picking up a pair of Mk IIs as well as these would be far more common by mid-war.

[@stuffedminecrafter2524]

do you have any suggestions on how to fit the bayonet frog over the belt buckle mine wont fit even tho it is an original belt and frog

[@RiflemanMoore]

My only suggestion for you would be to dissasemble that side of the belt, slip it on and reassemble. Some are a very tight fit.

[@stuffedminecrafter2524]

@@RiflemanMoore just tried that but i cant figure out how to get the brass slider loop over the end cap

[@davidbrennan660]

You can bend the brass sliders a little.

[@gavinsimnett7606]

Have you ever done anything on CMP?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Not as of yet, potentially could do in the future.

[@polishmafia1550]

Hey mate, in terms of how the water bottle is hooked up to the suspenders. I cannot have the water bottle attached to the straps while the trench tool is in place. It is either one or the other. Does this mean the length of the straps had different sizes ? I’m pretty tall and have a medium build. Never got around this.

[@RiflemanMoore]

There are long braces available, how tall are you? It is important to remember the belt should be worn fairly high in the hips, wearing it too low leaves very little of the braces to attach things on the hip and at the back. You should definitely be able to attach both the water bottle on the hip and the entrenching tool at the back. I'd generally advise entrenching tool first, then bottle.

[@polishmafia1550]

Rifleman Moore 180.34 cm

[@polishmafia1550]

The straps are repro and labeled as “large” maybe will need extra large ?

[@RiflemanMoore]

You're roughly the same height as me and I use normal length straps and can attach bottle and entrenching tool carrier with no problem so I might suggest you're wearing the belt a bit low?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Could you send me a photo of your wearing it on the Face Book page?

[@ccameron9]

Hey I was just wondering if the large pack for the webbing is needed and would a sten gun be historically correct for early war

[@RiflemanMoore]

No, the sten was not around in the early years of WW2. It's history is readily available online on wikipedia and elsewhere. The pack is a good thing to have to complete your webbing set, even if not always carried.

[@jenniferwhite6089]

what type of material were the punches make for would British and Canadian would be the some or were different Canada did what to be new as Canadian than British they very early I did not know if any different know that the British did leave Canadian to bare Canada in the first world war think they did that so Canadian not be a pain in the British butts

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Hey?

[@russbooth6766]

the lack of grammar in that sentance makes me want to cry.