I've just been sent a review copy of a book called 'no greater ally' the story of polands forces in wwii
Now there are some cracking photos in it but most interesting are those that show polish infantry in 1944 using the box respirator not the light weight type. Similarly a phot of Polish soldiers fighitng in a dutch farm complex shows them in a mix of MKII and RAC/Para type helmets!
By osprey publishing ISBN978-1-84603-365-0
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Stupid wholesalers is out of stock. Or I would have this now .
When it comes to the minutiae of differences in uniforms I am a bit of a clutz, especially with terminology, as I am about to demonstrate now... Is the box respirator the big one on the front, like these guys are wearing? (this pic is 1944, 2nd Corps BTW)
Also Dutch Farm sounds 1st Armoured, but I am not aware of any infantry being issued the RAC helmet (assuming that is the RAC is Royal Armoured Corps? )
Curse my no bookness.
Is the box respirator the big one on the front, like these guys are wearing? (this pic is 1944, 2nd Corps BTW)
Yes it is... I reckon those are probably MkVII, but can't be completely sure.
The carrier platoon of british infantry battalion could be issued with RAC helmets. We need to know more about the Poles in the picture to say whether they are infantry, carrier platoon or even Motor infantry from an Armoured division. Pictures in "By tank in Normandy" shows motor rifle officers in same pixie suits as tank crews by winter 1944. So sharing of kit in these units again possible.
So take turret off tank as I am planning and I have a carrier if you close one eye and squint.
Free speech is expensive these days!