B.E.F. Impression - Arras, 1940
I) Clothing:
A) Headgear
1) Field Service hat w/ brass GS buttons and cap badge
2) Mk 2 helmet w/ early pattern 3 piece chin strap (no netting or hessians)
B) Uniform
1) Blouse- Battledress serge (P’37)
2) Trousers- Battledress serge (P’37)
3) Khaki wool collarless shirt w/ gun-metal buttons
4) Boots- Ammo, Black w/ hobnails (capped toe)
5) White cotton braces
II) Gear:
A) Webbing Pattern 1937 web gear; all to have brass hardware, Blanco KG 97
1) Mk 1 front pouches* (1 pair)
2) Belt w/ brass keepers and buckles
3) Cross straps (1 pair)
4) Water Bottle carrier (skeletal)
5) Mk 1 Bayonet frog
6) Small Pack
7) “L” straps (matched pair)
8) Gaiters pair (brass tipped web ankle straps)
9) Blue (preferred) or Green enamel water Bottle w/ drab wool covering
B) Small Pack contains
1) Mess tin (Aluminum preferred)
2) Rain cape (brown rubberized preferred, tan acceptable) - optional
3) White enameled tea Mug
C) Gas
1) Mk V or Mk VI gas haversack*
2) Gas mask
3) Anti-gas brassard
4) Anti-gas Cape (rolled tied to back in alert position)
III) Weapons:
A) No 1 Mk III bayonet (sword type, 17 inches) w/ leather and metal scabbard
B) No1 Mk III rifle w/ web sling
C) Mk1 or Mk1M Bren gun
D) Vickers water cooled, tripod MMG
E) Boyes AT-rifle
F) M1928 with cooling fins and vertical fore-grip/ Drum or 20 rd mags only
No long barreled “carbines”
No insignia worn on BD or helmets.
* Mk II pouches modified to Mk I standards are acceptable
Reproduction Mk I pouches and Mk V gas mask bags can also be found through SoF
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/products.asp?pg=596
Battle Dress preferred vendors: 1st choice= Panther Store
http://www.panther-store.cz/en/catalog/en/british-militaria-1914-1945
2nd choice= What Price Glory
http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=3110&bc=no
Ammo Boots preferred vendors: no particular order
1st choice= What Price Glory
http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1485&bc=no
2nd choice= original post-war British ammo boots (leather soles)
3rd choice= Silverman’s in UK
http://www.silvermans.co.uk/ProductDetails/tabid/89/Department/Military/Category/FOOTWEAR/Description/AMMO+BOOTS/ItemId/2077/CurrentPage/0/Default.aspx
4th choice= CivilWarBoots.com (the maker… not CW shoes)
http://www.civilwarboots.com/war_boots.asp
Collarless shirt preferred vendors: no particular order
1st choice= What Price Glory
http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1184&bc=no
2nd choice= Panther Store
http://www.panther-store.cz/en/catalog/en/british-militaria-1914-1945/shirts_209/produkt/british-wool-shirt-1.-model
3rd choice= converted post war British wool shirts to 1939 standards
BLANCO KG97 preferred vendors:
Soldier of Fortune
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/reenactors/index.asp
or Shoe cream method.
Blanco and Bull website: Great for help
http://www.blancoandbull.com/repro-blanco/