Errata Sheet For David Gordon WWII Tommy Weapons, Equipment, Uniforms Books?

[Sapper740]

I see in Gordon's first edition (2005) of Uniforms of the WW II Tommy that First Pattern Dennisons had knitted cuffs vice Second Pattern did not.

Which brings us to two more unofficial modifications to the Denison smocks. The 1st pattern smock lacked the additional snaps to secure the tail-piece when not in use and led to many removing it completely to avoid having it dangle down in the rear. The knitted cuffs in the 1st pattern were appreciated for being windproof and led to short lengths of hose tops (socks) being sewn to the end of the arms on the 2nd pattern by some. As for David's "match grade" ammunition comment I'm not sure if he is referring to a specific match grade manufactured ammunition or simply referring to ammunition that is known for its accuracy.

As an amusing aside and speaking from personal experience, there is a large British Airborne reenacting community in Texas which prefers the 2nd pattern smock as it is cooler to wear when running around the countryside playing silly bugger in the Texas heat. When I used to reenact I'd go 'commando' under my 1st pattern smock and wool trousers lest I suffer from heat stroke. Now there's a 'modification' the Sergeant Major would frown on!

[GeeRam]

Which brings us to two more unofficial modifications to the Denison smocks. The 1st pattern smock lacked the additional snaps to secure the tail-piece when not in use and led to many removing it completely to avoid having it dangle down in the rear. The knitted cuffs in the 1st pattern were appreciated for being windproof and led to short lengths of hose tops (socks) being sewn to the end of the arms on the 2nd pattern by some. As for David's "match grade" ammunition comment I'm not sure if he is referring to a specific match grade manufactured ammunition or simply referring to ammunition that is known for its accuracy.

The knitted cuffs and the 'tail' isn't the only difference, as 1st Patt was longer in length and baggier in cut compared to the 2nd Patt. It was also slightly different in camo pattern and colours, The were was more base tan in the 1st Patt, and supposedly the original early production was hand-painted as opposed to the revised 1st Patt being screen printed as greater production needed, but I'm not sure if that's even been proved one way or another, and might well remain one of those unverified myths, but there seems to be a 'transitional' period when some of the later features of the 2nd Patt appeared in very late 1st Patt smocks.
The 2nd Patt began to be issued in early '44, so most new airborne soldiers trained for ETO (and not served in Italy etc) had the 2nd Patt, as would have almost all snipers trained for the Overlord and ETO ops.
The cut was different on the 2nd Patt, not just the sleeves, as was the base colours and camo colours, being a bit darker, which was more suited to NW Europe ops, with 1st Patt better suited to Med where it originally saw most service. The half zip was brass as well on 2nd Patt (steel on 1st Patt)

In terms of unit mods to the Denison, I've heard but never seen one, that the ones issued to the Royal Marines were all unit modded by removing the half zip, which was replaced by buttons and loops (maybe toggles and loops from the navy issue duffel coat?)