Quartermasters Stores - Your kit queries here.

(perhaps not cotton - linen maybe,...)

Use un-waxed linen string - strong and virtually rot-proof.

I've a large old roll of natural/undyed (light khaki coloured) linen which I use to stitch 37patt canvas repairs (perfect colour match!) and whip the ends of WW2 Brit tent guy-ropes with (looks just like the original stuff). It looks just the ticket on my ID tags too.

(P.S all those that are wanting British ID tags; "Tim's Tags" appears to be the best place to get them made - the material all looks and feel correct and he stamps them up in the proper style)

Did British infantry in Italy from 43' onwards wear insignia on their denim battledress?

I know the general rule for denims is don't badge them up, but just wondering if, in the Italian campaign where it was rather more common to be worn in action, unit insignia was ever attached?

Not to my knowledge no.

Not to my knowledge no.

Cheers mate!

Does the same hold true for Khaki Dress?

I think the general rule was not to wear unit badges in the battlezones no matter which uniform. To what degree that was enforced will have varied from unit to unit.

Canadian in Scicily with unit badges, I could find half a dozen pictures with no unit badges for every one with them

I read somewhere recently that soldiers in N Africa would get armbands made out of old uniforms to hold rank badges as if they sent uniform to be cleaned they wouldn't get the same uniform back. This solved the problem of unpicking and resewing the badges each time. Ask yourself whether you would bother to sew badges on your uniform in these circumstances?

I've gotten some of the basic stuff for my d-day para impression but having some problems with my gaiters, even though they're a 5 they're just to small it seems, they can't overlap and close completely when wearing the trousers and boots.
Does a larger size even exist or is there another thing I could do? or is it no big deal that they don't really overlap?

That's strange, sir. Mine are size threes and fit wonderfully round my DMS and BD, although I'm struggling to comprehend what the problem is... Would it be possible to see a photo to see what the problem is exactly?

If not, you could always try puttees... Might not be right for the Airborne, but we're understanding people and probably won't mind, care or notice once a scenario is in action.

Are you wearing ammo boots or modern high leg ones? Although in fact I can get my size 4s to close quite happily over high leg boots as well as ankle boots, it is even doable with my size 3s albeit at the extreme end of the straps.

How are you blousing the trousers? They are meant to be drawn from the front and back and folded on the outside of the ankle to provide 'padding'. Although I can't see how that would make much difference as the amount of cloth is the same.

Spike MIlligan illustrated various entertaining ways of wearing both anklets and helmets, so a bit of gape isn't a huge problem, although the RSM might not be pleased.

As trooper says, a photo might be helpful.

Cheers
Martin

That's a long time, sir.

Meanwhile while we wait for a picture to help him out... Question for the insignia experts out there.

I'm fully aware that service dress had collar badges and cap, HOWEVER... Did some flout the rules and wear their collar badges on their battle dress?

I've already seen the Royal Artillery's not so orderly switch from the gun carriage to the flaming grenade as a cap badge when the F.S Cap came into play.

Socks, British, for the wearing of. I have no idea what they're like and who sells them. Help me!

Socks, British, for the wearing of. I have no idea what they're like and who sells them. Help me!

I've got an original (unworn) pair, and they're grey, ribbed (for his pleasure) and woollen. I've also seen them in green. They were a very popular item to be sent from the home front, so pretty much anything goes, tbh. I've also seen knitting patterns in magazines for mothers/wives to make them and send off to the front.

Oh, and WPG to a pair: http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1509&bc=no

Thanks, DM. Very reasonable price - ordering now!

Has anyone had any issues getting the toggle rope from Soldier of Fortune to sit properly? I'll try and explain.

I'm wearing it over my head and behind the neck with the ends of the rope going over my shoulders, and then the two ends toggled behind my back. Y'know, the 'correct' way. The problem is that it just isn't secure enough, and any significant movement just causes the wooden peg to slip out of the loop and come undone. It's as if it's too loose or a wee bit too long (although truthfully I've not got a measuring tape on hand to measure it and see if it's the correct length) or the loop itself is too large.

I've tried wearing it a few different ways to try and combat the issue, but nae luck.

Thoughts?

As different people are different sizes, I would guess that the issue is not the length but the size of the hole (hmm just realised what I just typed ). Several options; redo the loop, put a whipping around the base of the loop to close it a bit, glue a bit of velcro to the toggle and loop to hold it together where no-one will see it.

I've got an original one and it ties back fine, as Russ says, the hole is probably too big and/or the rope hasn't loosened down enough through use. You could either close the hole up a bit as suggested, or just tie a loop in the rope itself to make it a bit shorter and increase the tension. I have a loop in mine as I quite like the hangman style coiled configuration but can never remember how to re-tie it, so I leave the loop in to remind me where to start coiling.

Cheers
Martin

I know the Sten MK IIS was used by commando and SAS, but what about the paras, or did they just use the MK V?

HOWEVER... Did some flout the rules and wear their collar badges on their battle dress?

Phoney war and BEF period it was not unusual to see RASC with collar dogs on BD. I have a photo of my fathers uncle dressed so.
Not seen it done by other units.

I know the Sten MK IIS was used by commando and SAS, but what about the paras, or did they just use the MK V?

Unlikely they'd have used the Suppressed version, as they weren't really expected to operate in the same covert manner, as well as the fact the suppressed version had a reduced range and would only really work reliably in single-shot mode.

Lee Enfield slings- Were the leather ones still used? I may go for one anyway as they look cooler. Be nice to know though

The only leather slings I remember seeing on British front line rifles were some US Army type Garand slings used by a couple of snipers.
The issue sling was the web version.

I believe that its called a Pattern 1914 sling and was essentially identical to the earlier sling on the MLE.