British & Commonwealth Units

The following is a summary of basic authenticity guidelines British and Commonwealth forces.

Battle Dress Blouse:  p-37 or p-40

·         Collar: Closed fall collar.

·         Front Closure: 4 or 5 button fly front. A cloth waist belt was also sewn in at the waist, and secured closed by a buckle sewn to the lower right waistband.

·         Pockets: Two breast pockets, box pleated, with scalloped flaps secured by buttons.

·         Cuffs: Vented cuffs, secured by hidden buttons.

(Note: The wear of Battle Dress was highly modified during the war, because of this; late war "open" collar patterns are acceptable if the closed collar pattern is not available.)

Battle Dress Trousers

Boots: Black "ammo" boots, preferably with a toe cap.

Gaiters: Standard '37 pattern in khaki is preferred, late war green are acceptable.

1937 Pattern Web Equipment Basic Components:
Web Equipment, 1937 Pattern was made of the same light khaki coloured cotton webbing that the early 1908 Pattern had been made from. The equipment set that the Canadian Army began to employ in 1939 had already been made standard in the British Army two years before.

Fighting Order will consist of: waist belt, braces, 2 Bren gun pouches, bayonet frog, entrenching tool, water bottle w/ holder (either skeleton or sleeved), and small pack with L straps. Late war gas mask bag, gas cape attached to waist belt, Mk II or Mk III helmet (turtle), Lee -Enfield No IV Mk I.

Head Gear: Khaki beret with Kings crown Regimental badge on it, or General Service cap (wedge) with appropriate Badge affixed.

Other additions: General service shovel, wire cutters, helmet netting, or any other DOCUMENTED item that a Commonwealth solider went into the battle of the bulge with.  These must be specific to the nationality portrayed

Please note this is "standard" within the Commonwealth and British equipped forces involved. There will be some variations within different corps, but the basics should be the same for all.

British Smocks: Early or late war pattern.

British Para or Commando Brets: Maroon with units cap badge.

Para Helmets: Early or late war.