Royal Warwickshire Regiment Re-enactment Group

EQUIPMENT

During the war, the British 'Tommy's ' equipment that they carried generally changed very little. The work horse that it was all based around was the 37 pattern webbing, which gave the soldier a belt and gaiters for best dress uniform and an ability to, if necessary, carry large amounts of equipment in battle to sustain him for a number of days in the combat zone. The equipment listed below displays what the average soldier would have landed with on June 6th 1944, which is our standard display at events. This webbing is naturally a light khaki colour, but for different areas and time frames of the was, was coloured with a powdered paint like substance called blanco, in this case the colour it has been coloured is a dark green known as KG3 Blanco which was standard for British infantry in Normandy.

'Battle' Webbing

1- 37 pattern webbing cross straps, these support the webbing belt and form the main basis around which the rest of the webbing set is created

2- 37 pattern utility pouches Mk2, a pair of these are attached to the webbing belt and cross straps

3- 37 pattern webbing belt, again the main part of the webbing with the cross straps which forms the main basis of the set, the belt is also used by itself with best dress and parade uniforms

4- No4 spike bayonet for Lee Enfield No4 Mk1 rifle (see weapons sections) with a scabbard in 37 pattern frog

5- 37 pattern water bottle cradle and water bottle with cork (bottle removable)

6- 37 pattern entrenching tool, cover and handle

7- Gas cape

8- Hawkins mine (see weapons section), not carried by all soldiers.