Just in case anyone missed my uniform listing and want to get the No 3 look right...
They wore ordinary battledress but may also wear camouflage smock or leather jerkin, as they chose. They wore tin helmets with or without net and if net then may have scrim. Some discarded their helmets on the boat or on the beach and donned their green berets instead. They were volunteers to the commando and as such they wore their own regimental cap badges, and they came from all branches. Other countries were represented in other commando units but No 3 were British. No 3 Commando didn't have their own cap badge - it was planned (No 3 were to have the dagger on a dark blue felt background) but this never came to fruition. They had the No 3 commando shoulder title and the Combined Operations round arm patch.
I'm not suggesting anyone rushes out and buys these, but for reference...
Combined Operations patches: http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/army-combi ... oduct,1516
No 3 Commando shoulder titles : http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/kandc-no3- ... oduct,1510
Green beret: http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/ww2-comman ... oduct,1253
So, to be clear, all you need for this game is standard British infantryman uniform - black boots, anklets, any version of British battledress and a tin helmet.
If you are wearing a para smock then you obviously don't need any insignia on your arms, so that is easy. The green beret (with a badge you already have or one of your choosing) is pretty iconic. Worn in rakish, mad or regulation style, as you please.
Oh, and number one accessory is the camouflage face veil worn round the neck. Very cool.
The photo is no 4 Troop in blighty before D-Day. Note that not all have arm insignia, wear a mixture of 37 and 40 pattern battledress blouse and trousers. Invasion photos of commandos show jumpers, smocks, jerkins and tin hats a-plenty.
The green beret (with a badge you already have or one of your choosing) is pretty iconic. Worn in rakish, mad or regulation style, as you please.
Sadly I have to admit to 'practicing' wearing the beret today in front of the mirror 
My favorite so far is high on the head with a tuft of hair sticking out the front. Would a neat little moustache be appropriate or is that more an officer thing?
Clean shaven I'd say - hair and hats show individuality but you would have to be giving the orders to get away with facial hair! (Just had a look at 4 Troop, narry a whisker amongst 'em).
But you are welcome to give yourself a short back and sides and grow a massive mop on top and slick it back down with Brylcream. I know I will. 
But you are welcome to give yourself a short back and sides and grow a massive mop on top and slick it back down with Brylcream. I know I will.
Already have 
Clean shaven it is then. 
Probably a good excuse to get a Bergan-y-like (like I need an excuse for a funky back-pack). But which badge to wear on the beret? which badge indeed?
I'm planning to get some use from my Welch Regiment badge, boyo.
I'm planning to get some use from my Welch Regiment badge, boyo.
Good point, I got one of those too.
Went to the forties do at Great Central Railway this weekend so decided to give my Merville commando look a try out.
Blimey, you look dashing!
All together now: Phwooooarr!
I've fired a bullet on every continent. Nearly hit someone, too.
I was chatting to some US Airbourne as a man walked by and said to his daughter "Those are American paratroopers and that one is a British Commando, he's the toughest of all soldiers" I couldn't resist looking smug 
That looks fantastic! I love what that fella said to his daughter, he's obviously well educated
Trust Tim - he has captured the Jerry cookhouse!
I knew it: pipes were standard issue kit to commandos.
Now, was the issue pipe straight, or curved?
Now, was the issue pipe straight, or curved?
As far as the few manuals I've got;
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkI'
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkI* (Bakelite austerity pattern)'
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkII'
...were all curved and followed the same basic form.
Malta. c. July 1943. Informal portrait of Pilot Officer John Hooke of Victoria, and of No. 3 (Kittyhawk) Squadron RAAF, smoking his issue pipe.
Looks like a MkI to me.
The Nazis insisted on genetically superior "Nicht verkrüppelt" straight pipes:
All British issued pipes were issued with 3x spare their little black-out hoods to cover the ember glows from the bowl from being visible to enemy aircraft:
Here's a picture of my only Pipe hood, found at Malvern Militaria Fair 2010, resting on a corner of paper torn from an envelope, approx 1" dia.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Ah there you go and me with a straight pipe (more common with Jerry). I think I have a curved one somewhere
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkI'
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkI* (Bakelite austerity pattern)'
'Pipe, Smoking, For the pleasure of, GS, MkII'...were all curved and followed the same basic form.
I do wish that was all true!
Heh, my Grandfather always had a straight pipe - I think curved pipes were too showy for him. Mind, he wasn't a commando but in the Pay Corp (way too old for active service and volunteered at the outbreak of war). On a practical point, straight pipes would be easier to clean as well as stow in a pocket?
On a practical point, straight pipes would be easier to clean as well as stow in a pocket?
on an equally practical point, in my experience, straight pipes seem easier to break than curved ones, though. Especially if in a pocket whilst running around playing war.
Maybe that's why Germany lost, they ran out of straight pipes due to breakages, and thus morale collapsed. 
Victory is assured.
:good: Victory is assured.
...especially if we all turn up looking like my avatar...
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
