Norman Mitchell, 93, served for 18 years with the Grenadier Guards. Here he describes the webbing equipment used by the British Army at the outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45), and how it was worn.
'The Old and the Bold' is just one of the community projects being run by the National Army Museum as part of its 'Building for the Future' redevelopment project. The Old and the Bold: 1937 Pattern Web Equipment
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Interesting to get a viewpoint from one who was there. I remember when P-37 equipment was very hard to find and when you did it was real expensive. Now you can find it every where ! I bought bits here and there and of course it never matched because of the Blanco they used. You can find Blanco now believe it or not. It is fairly easy to figure out how to set it up but I have been mystified on some items. I always tried to rig it the way Americans do but it never works. A British re-enactor told me to wear the belt across the mid section. The Americans wear belts on the waist. As a Collector of Web Gear I saw the evolution from WWII to the Current gear. It seems in WWII all the straps from all countries seem too narrow. This really digs into your shoulders especially when the WWII Soldiers carried heavier ammo loads. Look at the 30-06, .303 and 8mm compared to the 5.56. You can see a big difference in shoulder straps in the British 58 pattern and the American M-1956 Webbing.
The problem with '37 pattern is that the reenactors think that because there was such a complex variety of the stuff, that it all went '.......somewhere'. Well, it did............ but not ALL of it, all at the same time. If it was a simple everyday day in camp, it was just the web belt. A range or training day would be 'skeleton order' of belt, cross straps and pouches. Other dats, at, say, guard mounting would be belt. cross straps WITHOUT pouches but with little brass crossstrap buckles attached to the belt. Another was 'training order' and that would be belt, cross straps, small pack carried like a satchell with a compass or binocular pouch on the belt.............. And so on. But it was never, so far as I ever remember, all worn at once.
The '44 pattern was brilliant and to come back to the UK and the prospect of full deployment of that superb '58 pattern stuff was like heaven on earth! I'm not sure that the superb, comfortable '58 pattern yoke will ever be bettered
I have some '44 pattern stuff and it's my favorite over the '37. The '58 pattern is what I have a lot of . I was seeing sets being sold for cheap years ago so I bought 5 sets. The reason I did this is simple. They always sell the sets with a least one mint and one ratty pouch. I have put together 2 good to excellent sets. The problems I hear with 58 pattern is when it gets wet it gets heavy. I was guilty as a Re-Enactor for cramming as much crap on my webbing as I thought was necessary. I read in Jim Gavin's book "On to Berlin" about his observation of replacement troops. He noted during the Battle of the Bulge he saw troops pulling unneeded equipment on a sled. His Paratroops carried mostly ammo and food no comfort items. Now I am trying to collect the new PLCE gear. The hardest item to find without going overseas is that PLCE Belt.
I remember when P-37 equipment was very hard to find and when you did it was real expensive.
That seems to be the same with all US web gear and such too..
It dried up from Army/Navy stores and it seemed it was all gone. But with the advent of EBAY, etc, there was tons of it still out there in private hands. Prices went down for much of it because it was pretty easy to find, but the prices are coming back up again.
What a charming old fellow. Great listening to his account the equipment he used. It is such a shame these fellows are passing at such a tremendous rate. God bless them one and all.
The Old and the Bold: 1937 Pattern Web Equipment
Army at the outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45), and how it was worn.
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Originally Posted by kosmolinekid
