Trouble is long serving troops are issued items and when u move between theatres will still have their equipment very little would be withdrawn from their kit issue for re issue unless serving person is killed or leaves service in my time . We had 1157 issue books and equipment would be added to the book !
Good afternoon I found this video very informative! I have now changed my display around a bit!! Although the 45 MMS tins will have to stay until I can source the right ones! Love the channel...subscribed!!!
Guilty on the mirror and the mess tins, never realised that the mirror was meant for the far east.i just assumed as it fit in the pocket in the wash roll it was correct. Every day is a school day 😁 I have a set of 1940 dated mess tins but they are not in the greatest condition so I have been using a 45 dated set as an alternative
Carrying a steel shaving mirror is fine Andrew (though more commonly in a pocket) but the late war dated examples with the hole in are part of the late war jungle kit. As said above I likewise wouldn't want to cook in a set of tinned mess tins but eating from a clean set is fine (as seen in the recent ration videos the scope of individual cooking in the mess tins is relatively limited). As you say if yours are a bit ropey then a later aluminium set for using is a wise compromise though I'd definitely advise keeping an eye out for a set of the early war aluminium type.
Thanks for the info, I did everything wrong and had every bit you showed off in my kit. Glad I found out now and will replace or get rid of the items. Thanks
Interesting, not something I was aware of, thanks for the info. As already pondered I wonder if they were accidentally dropped or purposefully ditched.
We are assuming that they were left there at the time the area was front line and not at any other time. The button stick (along with other items) was meant to be kept in the large pack which was carried in transport. Being brass it would not have rusted, rotted or been burned.
The mess tins are half and half really, to be honest you should probably get both as the steel ones are the proper kit but the area made partially of lead so it is not recommended to eat from them, so if you are at an event when eating it's probably best to use aluminiums
The best to get for wartime reenacting are the early war aluminium examples if you can find them, for sure. The lead story is an interesting one I've heard repeatedly but can find no evidence for it, can you clarify exactly where lead is supposed to be found in the tinned mess tins, according to your understanding?
@@RiflemanMoore I was told by the one of the other Suffolk regiment LHS members. he never said specifically but I'd rather be safe than sorry (my ones are a bit rusty anyway)
As Allen says mirrors for shaving were often carried but not the later issue item shown. The modern steel mirrors available on eBay and elsewhere are very similar in design. There were a variety of cases/covers for them from the time, for example; faux leather, canvas and even some made of a material similar to that used for yellow cloth dusters.
Soldiers have never changed. From the earliest times, they will always enhance their kit issue in order to make life more bearable. I am a military historian, but I also served in the British Army for 25 years. My KFS was a children's mickey mouse set (my son's spare), held together by one of my daughter's hear bands. It fitted neatly in to my breast pocket along with my folding cup. I'm sure soldiers carried mirrors which they purchased themselves.
Greetings. I enjoy your channel. Thank you. I was wondering if you would be willing to help me identify what I believe is an original aertex desert shirt? Thanks again. Tom
Dang I did not know about the razor. What kind of razors were used in NWE that were military issued? Is the design wrong and post war or just the material?
@@nathansaunders2576From the official documentation for the "new" jungle equipment: "3-hole type Razor Holder is constructed from aluminium alloy to reduce weight to a minimum. Razor blades will be of the normal pattern, but specially packed to withstand tropical conditions, and issued under Unit arrangements". Razors of identical pattern but not of aluminium alloy are correct for use in Europe.
I would add to what other commenters have said by pointing out that you can't go wrong with a period civilian razor many men chose them over issue examples. See my recent video on the Valet Autostrop for one example.
Just as Jon says. Scottish Regiments were some of the few to retain very distinctive headdress etc. (when not in helmets) but otherwise usually wore standard uniform and equipment dependent on their role.
Thanks for the upload only the button stick to ditch! what would you suggest for a period razor? as i only have the one you show. also i have a nickel plated brass soap dish from the 30's which i use as a "private purchase item", which would have very likely been taken into the field by some
I'd recommend any period civilian safety razor, I've recently picked up a Valet Autostrop recently which was a very popular design at the time, I uploaded a video on it a week or so ago.
Hello I'm a Reenactor in the United States who currently does German and American. I'm interested in doing British. I just wanted to ask how do I start I was lucky to find units for German Heer and American but I wanna do this one solo for fun.
@@RiflemanMoore thank you I've been watching them. Reenactment is truly an addiction. The more impressions I do the more I want to do. Thank you for your help
join a good old forum, preferrably in your country, there is a chance to find others with the same interests in your area and to do stuff together. I would never recommend facebook to anyone, but if you are already there... they have hundreds of reenactor groups to make contacts.
I would be happy to at some point, yes. However if you want some information right away I have a series in my Reenacting Tips playlist which covers basic British kit, part 2 looks at web equipment.
I admire your confidence, however my father was issued his three piece cutlery when his regiment re-equipped after Arnhem. He took them with him in to Northern Europe for the last seven months of the war. It’s funny how people generalise and surmise and become ‘authorities’. I’ll stick to my own research based on extensive conversations with veterans rather than so-called, self-professed experts.
I just started watching you, and you're actually fun to watch as I am a WWII fan and I love to listen to other people who know stuff about WWII.
Trouble is long serving troops are issued items and when u move between theatres will still have their equipment very little would be withdrawn from their kit issue for re issue unless serving person is killed or leaves service in my time . We had 1157 issue books and equipment would be added to the book !
Good afternoon
I found this video very informative! I have now changed my display around a bit!! Although the 45 MMS tins will have to stay until I can source the right ones! Love the channel...subscribed!!!
Guilty on the mirror and the mess tins, never realised that the mirror was meant for the far east.i just assumed as it fit in the pocket in the wash roll it was correct. Every day is a school day 😁 I have a set of 1940 dated mess tins but they are not in the greatest condition so I have been using a 45 dated set as an alternative
I would keep cooking in the late ones. I don't totally buy you want hot tin mixing up with your bully beef. Lead or no.
Carrying a steel shaving mirror is fine Andrew (though more commonly in a pocket) but the late war dated examples with the hole in are part of the late war jungle kit.
As said above I likewise wouldn't want to cook in a set of tinned mess tins but eating from a clean set is fine (as seen in the recent ration videos the scope of individual cooking in the mess tins is relatively limited). As you say if yours are a bit ropey then a later aluminium set for using is a wise compromise though I'd definitely advise keeping an eye out for a set of the early war aluminium type.
Thanks for the info, I did everything wrong and had every bit you showed off in my kit. Glad I found out now and will replace or get rid of the items. Thanks
Glad this was useful!
Soap container, house wife, razor, mess tins, all dated 1944-1945 issued buy the MOD to me in 1977. and still have them.
They made thousands of them and issued them out whilst stocks lasted, waste not want not!
Never knew about the razor. Interesting. Thanks for the tips
Glad you found it interesting!
Loving this series, very informative. Thanks.
Glad you're finding it so!
My aluminium soapdish is stamped and dated 1945 so as you said post WW2.
I have found countless button sticks in normandy in front line infantry positions and in para positions in normandy
I have seen this also.
May be because they chucked them away realising they didn’t need them?
Interesting, not something I was aware of, thanks for the info. As already pondered I wonder if they were accidentally dropped or purposefully ditched.
We are assuming that they were left there at the time the area was front line and not at any other time. The button stick (along with other items) was meant to be kept in the large pack which was carried in transport. Being brass it would not have rusted, rotted or been burned.
Allen Prior we’ll see the largest thing also I think is what was unit to unit kept or thrown out varied greatly.
Brilliant video and helped clear up some confusion I had with the Razor...when in doubt go for the Vallet Auto Strop :)
The mess tins are half and half really, to be honest you should probably get both as the steel ones are the proper kit but the area made partially of lead so it is not recommended to eat from them, so if you are at an event when eating it's probably best to use aluminiums
The best to get for wartime reenacting are the early war aluminium examples if you can find them, for sure. The lead story is an interesting one I've heard repeatedly but can find no evidence for it, can you clarify exactly where lead is supposed to be found in the tinned mess tins, according to your understanding?
@@RiflemanMoore I was told by the one of the other Suffolk regiment LHS members. he never said specifically but I'd rather be safe than sorry (my ones are a bit rusty anyway)
Very interesting as building a wash roll at the moment
I have watched this like five times my friend. Good job and hope all is well!!!
Had soap dish,in 80s,so out of issue date,but still good,not issue kit.
Would these bits of kit then be good for occupation forces in French Indochina late 45 early 46?
Many thanks, I'm guilty of a few of these. Is there any evidence of mirrors being carried in NW Europe at all?
Mirrors were carried by most men but were not an issue item until the introduction of the jungle equipment.
As Allen says mirrors for shaving were often carried but not the later issue item shown. The modern steel mirrors available on eBay and elsewhere are very similar in design. There were a variety of cases/covers for them from the time, for example; faux leather, canvas and even some made of a material similar to that used for yellow cloth dusters.
Soldiers have never changed. From the earliest times, they will always enhance their kit issue in order to make life more bearable. I am a military historian, but I also served in the British Army for 25 years. My KFS was a children's mickey mouse set (my son's spare), held together by one of my daughter's hear bands. It fitted neatly in to my breast pocket along with my folding cup. I'm sure soldiers carried mirrors which they purchased themselves.
Nice Thanks for the tips!
Most welcome, glad you found it interesting.
have you got a list for Early war Far east kit?
I don't really know what to carry for the Fall of Singapore/ Malaya
Greetings. I enjoy your channel. Thank you. I was wondering if you would be willing to help me identify what I believe is an original aertex desert shirt? Thanks again. Tom
No worries Tom, drop me a message on social media or an email with photos if possible.
Do you know where the myth of lead in the tinned mess tins cam from?
I'm not entirely sure to be honest with you, beyond the look of the tinner finish, maybe fears over solder?
Dang I did not know about the razor. What kind of razors were used in NWE that were military issued? Is the design wrong and post war or just the material?
The 43 and 44 dated zinc alloy army issue razors are correct for NWE 1944.
@@nathansaunders2576From the official documentation for the "new" jungle equipment: "3-hole type Razor Holder is constructed from aluminium alloy to reduce weight to a minimum. Razor blades will be of the normal pattern, but specially packed to withstand tropical conditions, and issued under Unit arrangements". Razors of identical pattern but not of aluminium alloy are correct for use in Europe.
I would add to what other commenters have said by pointing out that you can't go wrong with a period civilian razor many men chose them over issue examples. See my recent video on the Valet Autostrop for one example.
@@allenprior8573 That's what I said, the others are a zinc based alloy. Typical war economy material.
Hey Rifleman Moore, Just wondering if you could do a video on scottish equipment during ww2. Thanks!
It would be largely the same, other than Scottish Regimental specific insignia and dress distinctions, which is a massive and complex topic in itself.
Just as Jon says. Scottish Regiments were some of the few to retain very distinctive headdress etc. (when not in helmets) but otherwise usually wore standard uniform and equipment dependent on their role.
Thanks for the upload only the button stick to ditch! what would you suggest for a period razor? as i only have the one you show. also i have a nickel plated brass soap dish from the 30's which i use as a "private purchase item", which would have very likely been taken into the field by some
I'd recommend any period civilian safety razor, I've recently picked up a Valet Autostrop recently which was a very popular design at the time, I uploaded a video on it a week or so ago.
@@RiflemanMoore thank you
Rifleman Moore when did they start using the aluminium razors... I’ve seen some that look very similar but dated 1943.
Good video and thanks for the tips.
Thanks, glad it was of use.
Hello I'm a Reenactor in the United States who currently does German and American. I'm interested in doing British. I just wanted to ask how do I start I was lucky to find units for German Heer and American but I wanna do this one solo for fun.
A good question, there are a series of videos on my channel covering the basics of the British Army in NW Europe during WW2 which might prove helpful.
@@RiflemanMoore thank you I've been watching them. Reenactment is truly an addiction. The more impressions I do the more I want to do. Thank you for your help
Nice video indeed! Now that we know those items aren't WW2 period, any suggestions of what to use? It would make another nice video! Thanks :)
I have made other videos covering this, showing wartime mess tins, holdall contents, etc.
@@RiflemanMoore Many thanks! I should have checked first before leaving a comment...
You remind me a lot of Nick Geerling but you’re British
I was a serious reenactor for more than 30 years but I discovered that with the help of alcohol and drugs I could overcome it.
That’s some pretty good re-enactment.
Where on EARTH did you get that MEco shirt?
Our group had them made. I'm with a group using MECo as a backcronym for Military Equipment Collectors, as opposed to Mills Equipment Co.
Thanks for sharing !
Most welcome!
What about all the foot powder containers that have flooded the market recently?
What about them?
Are they correct to include in the pack? I thought they might fall into this category of items not to include.
Yes, they are suitable, gold lacquered early war, moving to brown/drab lettered green from mid-war on.
@@RiflemanMoore thank you. Always enjoy and appreciate your excellent videos. It has cost me a lot of money, but I’m having fun! 😄
Helpful tips!!
Glad to hear it.
hi im 12 and was wondering if and how i could get in to ww2 British reenactments
join a good old forum, preferrably in your country, there is a chance to find others with the same interests in your area and to do stuff together. I would never recommend facebook to anyone, but if you are already there... they have hundreds of reenactor groups to make contacts.
Can you do a video on accurate we2 web equipment
I would be happy to at some point, yes. However if you want some information right away I have a series in my Reenacting Tips playlist which covers basic British kit, part 2 looks at web equipment.
Interesting but a bit long winded
I admire your confidence, however my father was issued his three piece cutlery when his regiment re-equipped after Arnhem. He took them with him in to Northern Europe for the last seven months of the war. It’s funny how people generalise and surmise and become ‘authorities’. I’ll stick to my own research based on extensive conversations with veterans rather than so-called, self-professed experts.