Paras - Uniform, Kit and other Particulars

On the original image of the Oxf&Bucks D company guys, Capt Priday a bren Gunner and L/cpl Lambley, the handle of a pistol can be seen sticking out of the top of a denison pocket.
http://www.battlefieldhistorian.com/ite ... 09zoom.jpg
In most prints its cropped too high to see it.
I'll leave you to spot it and what type of pistol.

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 read a few accounts where the dulling of brass is mentioned, though I'm pretty sure it was ignored by most formations who weren't actually in combat. I believe there was a chemical compound used later to ensure that brasses would be dull when troops went into action, though I've no idea what this compound was.

Same with the dubbing of boots, where one bloke pointed out to his sergeant where it was written (in the newspaper IIRC) and was told in that case he should dub them first, and then bull them.....

though I'm pretty sure it was ignored by most formations who weren't actually in combat.

Thats perfectly within the remit of the order.

On the original image of the Oxf&Bucks D company guys, Capt Priday a bren Gunner and L/cpl Lambley, the handle of a pistol can be seen sticking out of the top of a denison pocket.
http://www.battlefieldhistorian.com/ite ... 09zoom.jpg
In most prints its cropped too high to see it.
I'll leave you to spot it and what type of pistol.

Also to note, there's the barrel of what could be a P08 or similar sticking out through a hole in the lower pocket of the denison worn by the chap in the centre, too.

Its a S&W Victory?
All three have pistols.

On the original image of the Oxf&Bucks D company guys, Capt Priday a bren Gunner and L/cpl Lambley, the handle of a pistol can be seen sticking out of the top of a denison pocket.
http://www.battlefieldhistorian.com/ite ... 09zoom.jpg
In most prints its cropped too high to see it.
I'll leave you to spot it and what type of pistol.

It doesn't look like a Webley or a Hi Power...

Its another S&W.

The guys on the right and centre have S&W victory revolvers, the one on the left with the Bren has an Enfield revolver or maybe a Webley. Though the grip does appear to be one of an Enfield.

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Is this the correct config. for patches for 13th Batt.? I have seen badges in different colours so I'm not sure. Need help...

Is it both arms? Or just the right arm. A bit of information would be good! Thankyou.-- attachment is not available --

You only wear wings on the right arm, the rest is the same.

Lovely. Thankyou!

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Is this the correct config. for patches for 13th Batt.? I have seen badges in different colours so I'm not sure. Need help...

Is it both arms? Or just the right arm. A bit of information would be good! Thankyou.

No, you want the blue 'Parachute Regiment' titles, and I think you can drop the 'Airborne' flash too (though one or two do seem to be wearing it in photos).

See here for some photos: http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/3939?m ... ion=Photos

Hope this helps.

Regards
Joe

Yep. That helped. I've ordered the insignia.

Shame those photos weren't taken in 44 or my Grandfather would have been in the A Company one.

Yep. That helped. I've ordered the insignia.

Shame those photos weren't taken in 44 or my Grandfather would have been in the A Company one.

Have you seen photo No. 32 (of the 37) when you click on page 3? That was taken in '44.

Those photos are interesting, they show that the airborne strip was still used in 1944 but by 1945 it was almost totally absent.
I have the detail of when it was ordered removed somewhere but I cant find it. Typical.

Helmet? Mk1 or Mk2? Difference appears to be the chinstrap though I'm sure there are many other differences.

Helmet? Mk1 or Mk2? Difference appears to be the chinstrap though I'm sure there are many other differences.

The only main difference is look, is the brim of the helmet. The Mk1 has a thick (about 3/4" tall) angled band around the base, where the Mk2 has a smaller rolled edged where the helmet flares out, to the same angle as the Mk1 (so basically the same shell as the DR and RTR helmets).

If you can find the leather chin strap go for that. Gives you more flexibility. Leather straps were seen on all operations where as the web ones are rare until very late. You find leather straps on the helmet with the rubber rim and the plain shell.
The order to remove the 'Airborne' title was given to 6th Airborne in November 1944. So, by the time they saw action in the Ardennes and on Op. Varsity they would have mostly been removed.

So for D Day, that would suggest the Airborne Flashes are required?

And did I decipher that correct by saying it doesn't matter whether its a Mk1 or Mk2?

Edit: I'll probably get the Mk1 which is readily available with the leather chin cup.

And did I decipher that correct by saying it doesn't matter whether its a Mk1 or Mk2?

Edit: I'll probably get the Mk1 which is readily available with the leather chin cup.

Just to clarify; the type of chin-strap type doesn't dictate what version of helmet it is directly, it's the type of shell used (see my descriptions ^above^), but to help with the choice....

The Mk1 would have only been found with the leather version initially (unless for some reason it was later retro-fitted with a webbing chin-strap), where-as the Mk2 was the more common type (and most likely to be the type most found in common service by '44) which was issued with either type (firstly the leather chin-strap, but later on the webbing chin-strap when that was developed and started being used). The most generic (and probably most ideal for your desired impression) would be, to my mind, a Mk2 with leather chin-strap.

Decent repros of Mk1 shells are usually far more expensive than repro Mk2 shells, too!