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I took this picture of a preserved Land Rover at an event a year or 2 ago and I came across it on my computer this evening while looking for something else. These Land Rovers were painted pink because it was found to be a good colour for camouflage in the deserts of Oman where it was used in the 1960s/70s by the SAS regiment against insurgents trying to overthrow the government of Oman.
Discovered when 'they' found a vehicle in the desert, only by the shadow. Wind/sand had scoured the paint to the pink undercoat.
If you open up the stickies in this forum there is an article on the "Pinkies" in one of the recent Classic Military vehicle magazines which Doug (Badger) kindly uploads for us all. see link below
Not all of them were Pink......
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=59666
It does confirm in the article that it was discovered in the Omani campaign by the SAS that by painting the vehicles pink it improved their camouflage.
Off at a tangent a bit, as I'm prone to do......... Why on earth do the owners of these vehicles, who are inevitably of the older and, er........, 'rounder or rotund and of the better fed persuasion.....' insist on sitting in and on these vehicles. Even worse, dressing up to suit the part although not here I hasten to add. Later, in the photos while the vehicles look absolutely brilliant, those, er.... older and rounder owners make the whole thing look a bit daft. Just my opinion of course! My brother has an absolutely superb 1945 Bedford QL GS lorry and it was he who pointed this out when I asked why he didn't put a battledress on to dress the part. He answered that while he could easily fit into a 1950's battledress (he's quite slim and trim.....) being 62 and dressed up just looks daft! Leave the dressing up part to those 20 and 30 year olds I say!
I think that I photographed the Land Rover in post 1 as the owner was about to drive off home, hence he was sitting in his vehicle. Perhaps owners of historic military vehicles would like to explain why some like to dress in various types of military clothing,with varying degrees of success. Personally, I only really have a problem with individuals who arrive at events dressed up as ardent Nazis such as Waffen SS or Gestapo, for example, but I do tolerate re-inactors dressed as run of the mill WW2 German servicemen/women.
Some owners do look the part, and others as Peter says look out of place.............. as for the SS etc we have been down that road before, personally I don't have a problem with them, yes its strange, men and women dressing as such, but you can't stick your head in the sand and ignore certain parts of history, it happened and we deal with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
At last years W&P show the German Re enactors won hands down in the Living History part....... really professional and well thought out.
When I spoke to Tankhunter, last year I mentioned the Matchless and hoped to get down this year with it, but it won't happen, more and more problems with the Engine etc, not in any rush, but we did mention about dressing up........ I've a few bits to go with the Bike for display only (thats why have put a WTB advert for a Mk3 Sten to buy or trade etc most pics I've seen they have Mk111's) but don't see myself riding around in the full kit etc..... but would like to get some of the correct kit for the display.
Just a well presnted bike will do for me Geoff. Just like his well presented Bedford. Just a personal thing of course. Talking of well presented, look at SKD 220G on google.........
Nice looking Mini.......a credit to the owner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
When I say bits of kit its just some of the basic bits a Dispatch rider would have, Helmet, Sten etc nothing overkill, I'd be watching everything like a hawk while enjoying some refreshing cider, which can be bought by the gallon at the W&P which is quite handy as the half a gallon mark would give a reminder that I'd need to start locking the bits away.
There is a Matchless WD G3L on ebay at present for £7750....... item number 252852993850. Very nice bike.
I'm a Jeep and Royal Enfield WD/C CO and D owner and I wont be dressing up. If I drive the Jeep to work I'll be wearing my everyday uniform and that's it, I just think I'd look a *** in all the ww2 garb.
I found that for the most part the uniformed types never had to wear a uniform. I had my fill of all that gear. I'd do like you and just wear workwear and chat with the guys like Peter that wanted to look at his old work truck for a lark...Quote:
Originally Posted by Brit plumber
The problem with individuals dressing up as Nazis is that some people find it very offensive and in some countries such as Germany you could find yourself arrested for doing so. At an event last year I met and spoke to a group of re-enactors who were portraying a WW2 German infantry and MG42 platoon. They were very well turned out, wore their uniforms well and the N.C.O./officer gave out his orders in German. I didn't have a problem with this group because they were just trying to portray the average German soldier of WW2, nothing more.
On the other hand, I saw a group of WW1 reenacters on TV at the funeral of a found WW1 body in France. If you're dressing up in uniform then someone should have told them to smarten up a bit, blanco the webbing, clean the brasses, polish the boots - properly and iron their SD trousers and jackets. And if you're going to slope, order and present arms, an hour's practice beforehand might have been a good idea. Mind you, so might an hour's drill rehearsal too......... They just looked shoddy. Maybe this particular group who meant well and deserved to succeed should have had an ex-CSM to lead them
Incidentally, and you're not going to believe this, but that 1st war serge Service Dress, all dated from the 30's was the uniform we wore as apprentices at Carlisle (and also at the other apprentices schools at Armorfield, Chepstow and Harrogate). It was only phased out in 1965 when stocks ran out. Then battledress became the norm. That's todays grizzle out of the way........
I don't disagree but I suspect none of the re-enactors to which you refer have had any sort of military service, not even in the cadets, so they know no better. It's a pity that the group were not checked out/advised/trained before the funeral.
My answer to that would be if it is their intention as "non" ex military to look like the real deal by spending a fortune in some cases to buy the right kit, then my adage would be "if you are going to do it, do it properly or not at all", no matter how good their intentions.
Quite agree, but the problem here is getting them to understand that. You would have thought that at a high profile event like a WW1 funeral/internment that someone would have checked out the "re-enactors" first or better still used present day soldiers dressed in vintage uniforms.
Good point about using current soldiers dressed up as old soldiers. But difficult to get sanctioned from on high. It was done for a big 10 gun Vickers MMG shoot several years ago and as suggested by Gil (thread 15) they went through a week of Vickers MMG gun drill training beforehand. They were pretty good too........ Only 3 stoppages in 40,000 rounds of ammo!
I was on a few firing parties to funerals of deceased 82nd Airborne soldiers in the 1980's. We rehearsed the drills for the better parts of three days before departing in dress uniforms with weapons. One funeral in Chapel Hill, NC was both Masonic and military and it really did me proud to be part of it. We were "one smooth movement" and sharp as tacks.
I have a crested, "The Blackwatch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada" tee shirt that I wear when driving my M38 Canadian Jeep. That's as far as it goes.
Attachment 82939
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Moderator Edit: added pic for member... :thup:
While we are talking all things Canadian, and apologise for going off topic, but not really, watch this and watch the room fill with smoke and make your eyes water...............absolutely priceless, Little Belgian boy shows his appreciation to the Canadians marching past, see their response:
Little Belgian boy saluting Canadian Troops - YouTube
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I know one of them who did this, (an Ex REME Armourer), real nice bloke, he was telling me all about it when he was instructing me on the GPMG........
One "schoolboy error" that re-enactors in military uniform often seem to make and I noticed this with a chap last year when he arrived at an event before he had even got out of his car is to forget to get their hair cut. It seems such an obvious mistake to make arriving at an event, dressed in vintage military uniform but having a hair style that would be unacceptably long for military service. It is an easy thing to correct, nothing to learn, just go into town and visit the barbers; why do so many re-enactors fail to do so???
They don't want a haircut. They want to dress up and then step back out of the role. They don't really want to be it, just act it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
Nice color! I just might paint my '72 88" pink. Then again................
If your planning on a Desert trip then go for it........ personally I'd stick to Deep Bronze Green or Nato Green.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnyc
Probably not a good idea if you're planning on using it for your commute to work, unless you've got a very thick skin. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnyc
Stick out like a sore thumb in the North Korean landscape in pink, keep it NATO green:lol:
Yes. There comes a point in life where the only two roles you can get away with portraying are either Home Guard or Volksturm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
DON'T PANIC!!!
or
KEINE PANIK!!!