Basis of impression
The Hallamshire Battalion were a Territorial Army Battalion from the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment. The impression described here is for is for their involvement in the Battle for Normandy and the successful liberation of Arnhem in 1944.
Head
• MkII Tommy Helmet & net: SoF, SS, WPG – £40
Uniform
• Repro 40 Pattern Serge Battledress blouse and trousers: SoF (pictured), WPG – £170 for the set
• Post war elasticated trouser braces – £5
Insignia
(mounted on pieces of serge on each arm)
• Hallamshire Battalion shoulder titles, red on serge, 2nd pattern: ML – £3.50 each
• Late war (aggressive) 49th Div Formation Patches (printed ideally): SoF, DP, ML (all woven rather than printed) PM (printed) – £10 per pair
• Infantry Arm of Service Strip: SoF, ML, DP – £5 per pair
Feet
• Ammo Boots: SoF, WPG, SS (pictured) – £50
• Black leather boot laces (4ft long): SoF, WPG – £2.50
• Gaiters: SoF (repro), SS (pictured) – £10
Webbing
All 37 Pattern with brass fittings: SS, SoF, WPG, S&S
• belt – £15
• 2x universal pouches (brass popper fitting) – £8 each
• 2x webbing braces – £3 each
• Small pack – £15
• 2x L-Straps (left and right) – £3 each
• bayonet frog – £5
• entrenching tool (cover + haft + blade) – £20
• water bottle and skeleton cradle – £10
• All the above are coated with KG3 Blanco: S&S, SJ – £10 per block (this is getting very rare though.
Weapon
• No4 Spring airsoft rifle: S&S – £470
• No4 Bayonet: SoF – £5
• No4 Sling: SS, SoF – £5
• Replica Mills Bomb: SoF – £25
Misc.
• .303 bandolier containing 50 rounds – £30
• Post war British rubberised ground sheet (wartime ones were the same but khaki) – £5
• Late war respirator case and respirator – £20
• Jack knife/clasp knife on string lanyard around waist: SoF – £10
Notes
All prices are approximate. Also try Militaria Fairs – they can contain some real bargains. Many of the items pictured were bought at Militaria fairs. Where no retailer is mentioned in the list above its best to try buy at a fair.
Key to retailers
S&S www.shootnscoot.co.uk
ML www.montyslocker.co.uk
SoF www.sofmilitary.co.uk
WPG www.whatpriceglory.com
SS www.sabresales.co.uk
DP www.divpatch.com
SJ www.sentimentaljourney.co.uk
PM www.pegasusmilitaria.com (use IE not Firefox)
Photography by Chomley-Warner