The exception being other ranks stationed in India and the Middle East.
Out there tailoring, starching, pressing and even buying your own uniform were well within the price range of the private soldier as the locals would do it for pennies. I'd agree that other than shirts and underwear private purchase in NWE was both very rare and likely to have you on a charge (the exception being private purchase coloured FS caps, these were encouraged)but for 'colonial' units and those able to visit the bazars in the desert towns its far from rare.
Very late war and 'army of occupation' altered BD and non issue collared shirts and ties become more prevalent but not for day to day duties or combat... just for 'walking out'. Something that isnt really part of WWII airsoft outside of the 'social'.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
(the exception being private purchase coloured FS caps, these were encouraged)
Still very unusual in the conscript armies of WW2, and certainly not combat kit, some regiments had more than others, some had none.
Same with the private purchase kit acquired in the bazaars and markets of the near, middle and far East. You are going to keep it for best and ruin your issue kit in combat.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Hi, The Dutch BD colour is very close to Canadian BD colour, the Dutch BD I have, even has the tab at the neck closure like the 1942 Canadian modification to their 37 pattern, I'm thinking that the Dutch BD wasn't fashioned on British BD but on the Canadian, even down to the colour, as I also have Canadian 1950s BD trousers and they are all but identical in colour. Now the question is,"Was the Canadian BD used by British troops ????, " or do I need to use my BD for a Canadian formation ???. Kev
