Paras - Uniform, Kit and other Particulars

As with the manual requirement that 'boots should not be bulled' in reality they were,

In combat? Rubbish. They were dubbined for protection from the wet. As with the brasses one of the last things you want in combat is shine. Remember the 'S' code for camouflage? Shape, shine.....Boots would be clean, that is not the same as 'bulled'.
In really bad weather or for really shitty jobs, think RE building bridges or Pioneer Corps shifting muck, 'boots U/S' were issued.

And you're deliberately missing my point.

Alex is doing an impression of a family members uniform and i assume he wants to do it properly and with respect.

Best to do it properly and have stuff as it should be before allowing it to weather for 'combat' than start off half assed.

Of course boots were not bulled in combat, they were cleaned and polished daily when possible though, same with shaving and all kit admin.

Out of the immediate area of fighting you'd be expected to keep your kit presentable and serviceable, its why you carry boot care and cleaning kit and a housewife in your webbing and small pack, if it was only for garrison it would be in your large pack.

The point is though is that while a 'combat' impression will be a little more loose you're talking about troops who (if we're doing d-day) will have been in the field for a short period of time. What i'm saying is simply that the 'brasses allowed to dull' was written on the manual, what an RSM actually allowed is a different story altoghether.

I cant beleive you of all people are using the 'its only for airsoft' argument that we've spent forever trying to dispell on other forums

cant believe you of all people are using the 'its only for airsoft' argument that we've spent forever trying to dispell on other forums

Because airsoft is about combat? and for all the above reasons. If it is for combat the correct appearance is dulled.
What the RSM allows? Any Warrant Officer worth his salt will put the lives of his men before the parade ground bullshit. That was just as true then as it is now. You would be more likely to be gripped for not having dulled boots and brasses before entering combat. RSM are not stupid, they know the parade ground and the field are not the same place. To risk the road of anecdote I know several serving WO and knew two, now sadly passed, one who held the rank in the CMP and one who was detailed as a part of the guard for imprisoned ranking Nazis after the war, though he was never clear on where they were imprisoned. All are/were quite able to define what was suitable for parade was not practical for combat.

And you're deliberately missing my point.

It's not your point to make surely, does that privileged belong to Alex as the OP.

Alex is doing an impression of a family members uniform and i assume he wants to do it properly and with respect.

Now you are telling Alex what he is doing it for? He states in this very thread that its first use will be for a film, that he wants a combat look for that. When/if he wants to use the uniform outside of combat then he can polish away, depot, home service and as a family tribute would demand that. As I noted in my post.

Perhaps alex and I have had PMs you're not privy too.

After spending all day at work helping real soldiers in need the enthusiasm for arguing about playing soldiers is lacking so crack on and argue away Sean

Perhaps Alex and I have had PMs you're not privy too.

Which changes nothing.
Your initial advice, offered here, was poor. That is what everyone sees.

Yawn....

Indeed.

Glad to see you're finding your arguing the toss over *everything* as dull as the rest of us then

I'm off today, for the record, speaking to the OP, he does want to do it properly and feels he's been given good advice so why not just leave it eh?

Unlike you i'm trying to help Alex and sort some kit out for him and get him off to a good start rather than score internet 'wins' cos i'm bored.

Much as i really like you in person poacher i've a day off today and I dont want to spend it arguing about whether its a good idea to do an impression properly or not with you on the internet so, have a good day yourself eh, i think we've said all that needs to be said here unless its further advice in helping Alex source any extra kit.

If you *really* want to argue with me PM me and i'll try and reply later on rather than ruining a helpful thread with bickering.

Well I was (at like 10am ) posting to say, all mod-y like, 'don't descend into bitchiness, let it be'. But now I feel it would dishonest to do that, as it creates a false equivalency that you both are 'as bad as each other' and that it should just be dropped, as a draw or a stalemate. Which is what Gadge's last post implies.

But that is not true. Poacher has kicked yo' ass Gadge . 'It's only airsoft' was a phrase never used by poacher, and your implication that your way is 'doing it properly' creates a neat little false dichotomy. But Poacher is arguing to do it properly as well.
Plus I think 'I have exchanged PMs with the OP (and I am thus privy to information you are not)' must fall under some definition of 'the argument from revealed truth'. All good use of debating and arguing tactics, but not very honest.
He is not 'arguing the toss over nothing', he thinks you are wrong. People are allowed to think you are wrong, and you have to present your case for being right like everyone else, as you have no more 'authority' on this issue then anyone else does.

From reading this I don't think Poacher has "purposefully missed your point", but that you have never stated one. At least not one that I can see. There was a bit of silly jingoism (see what I did there ) a while back, and I think the 'hard work required to do Brit' required some justification - hence the blanco and bull came out as an idea?
This then morphed - in responding to Poacher's point - into an assertion that brasses should be polished, and boots bulled, across the board to be correct. Poacher's argument is that this is not correct in combat. (if this is NOT your point, then you should state whatever your point IS clearly so people reading can follow the discussion)

You both use an argument based on common sense (Poacher does cite a manual though) and Poacher's common sense fits more with the history of all armies - from Rome until now - that they commonly ignore/avoid certain requirements/stipulations/drills, so as to increase efficiency in the field. 'Not being shiny' falls into this category.

And on that note, lets not argue anymore about it...please...for the love of god!

Thankyou all for the input guys, I have lots more questions to ask once I start getting the kit together.

I'm done on this thread, i'll continue to assist the OP via PM as clearly everyone else is more interested in winning on the internet....

Ah I see, those who disagree with you are only interested in winning on the internet. Whereas you have nobler motives, of course.

You made a statement. That statement was subsequently challenged in open discussion. This is a community forum where we are supposed to discuss things, with people who we know, and with passion for the subject. It is not the comments section of the Telegraph where everyone who disagrees with ones post is a troll, and people argue the toss just for the fun of winding people up.

Those who point out what they see as flaws in your posts helping Spiers, are not arguing against them because they just want to win, and don't care about helping him with his post. They are arguing because they also want to help. I don't really care if brass was polished or not in the field, I aint gonna do it because I can't be arsed. On the flip-side I also always start from a position of doing it neatly, relying on my natural constructed slovenliness to take things down to a 'combat' level.
However Spiers might want to know the result of your disagreement, not to mention anyone else reading the thread with an interest. So those with opinions one way or the other make their case, so that he, and any others, may then decide. Anyone is free to say that they don't care as well if they wish, but not the original protagonists. They have already established that they do care.

It is the way you have conducted this argument that riles me and, yes, that includes your little sign off implying that your taking some kind of moral high ground in leaving the discussion. Constructing the idea that anyone (actually, 'everyone else') who disagreed with you is doing so simply out of a desire to argue for no reason and win on the internet.

Jesus Craig, are you ok?

Right. I've ordered my BDs from Panther Store, Ranger Camp Denison from SOF which is nice and I've started working in, wearing for dog walking etc. very comfortable and windproof, with Parachute wings patch and camo scarf.

Gadge has provided me with some Gaiters and Respirator Bag.

I have compiled a list of the rest of the kit which I think I need. I think the most daunting part of the process is the webbing. I'm sure it will become apparent when I see it.

One things, when carrying a Sten, are the magazines carried in the Universal Pouches or is there a different pouch for them?

Sten mags in universal pouches most of the time.

Though you'll need MKIII pouches for them to fit.

But MK111 are correct for the 'look'

Yes, very correct. As long as you use the first type MkIII with the poppers.

Necro heaven.
http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/1937/ ... _1423.html
The official order from 1939 to allow brasses to dull. Check the details, "used or worn or LIKELY to be used or worn"
Also the date? 1939, thats 2 years before the formation of mass British airborne forces so a familiar practice by the time line we are looking at.
I might not be fast but at least I'm cheap.

I've got the basic webbing including, belt, the straps that go over your shoulders, 2x MkIII pouches and waterbottle. Currently looking at an entrenching tool and bayonet frog so I'm well on my way.

Please tell me...What are the L Straps for?

And what about a pistol holster? Is it similar to American Paratroopers where the officers carried only other than those who could beg, borrow or steal one?

Please tell me...What are the L Straps for?

Attached to your small pack, they make it wearable as a backpack.

And what about a pistol holster?

Normally it's for officers only. The regular paras were not issued pistols. But you can see quite a few pics with captured pieces.