Military Uniforms - UK from WW2 Onwards.

I often find it strange viewing films, photographs etc of UK military battle dress (tunic & trousers) etc and comparing the 'stepping out, go to Sunday meetings' uniforms of the American Forces in WW2. The American uniforms always look better quality, tailored and more comfortable than our stiff, hairy battle dress uniforms.

The same can be said about US military attire in the 1960s and 1970s when this young lad was in the military. I always thought that our No. 2 uniforms were naff compared with the US soldiers uniforms. they still seemed far more comfortable, tailored etc than our QM issued stuff.

Are the American forces issued with more clothes, ie:- 'Rigs of the Day' than British Army soldiers? I can remember in the 1960s in BOAR, some of our Lads started to wear Milletts khaki collar attached shirts instead of the usual naff shirt with collar studs. Unfortunately the RSM of the unit was most displeased, and Regimental Orders displayed 'blah' banning the wearing of Milletts shirts (für aber nur für Offiziere) Officers only!!

In the 1970s, these rules were somewhat relaxed, and many soldiers, including myself wore Milletts shirts because they were far more comfortable than the old detachable collars. Those were only worn for RSM or CO Drill Parades. The American service guys I worked with in Norway always looked smart in their uniforms. Even with a tailored No. 2's, I always felt like a sack of spuds tied in the middle!

What was the experience of other folks here on this website as regards the differences between current UK Military uniforms, and US ones? What is the difference today for serving soldiers, airmen and naval rating - are the American Forces uniforms still better tailored and more comfortable to wear?

Now I just slop around in cargo trousers, T-shirt and based ball hat & look naff like all the other Geezers off the Estate!!

... and I still look like a sack of sh*te tied up in the middle......

As individuals we did try to look different in our army issues , we did dye our knitted khaki
ties in brasso this gave them a nice duck egg blue colour, and no one would be seen wearing
the large beret as issued, it had to be boiled and shrunk then shaped to fit, Remember?

Remember ?
Blimey, I was doing it last year, my old beret had been condemned as unfit for human habitation so I had to shape a new one. What a performance, it was the size of the cupola cover on a Bedford 3 tonner !
I always envied the Canadians and their perfect little berets.

Shirt KF,

`Kin awful things, makes me shudder just thinking about the bliddy things.

British army uniforms have always been shit for other ranks.Officers always had nice well tailored uniforms even their hats were tailored.I served in a Jock battalion and the officers had better glengarries.We were not permitted to even wear them.Their cap badges were made of silver and ours were metal or plastic type.Their kilts were lighter material ours were heavy and uncomfortable.

Clothes do not make the man ... its what's in the uniform that counts ..

Len (Ciphers)

brum wrote:

Remember ?
Blimey, I was doing it last year, my old beret had been condemned as unfit for human habitation so I had to shape a new one. What a performance, it was the size of the cupola cover on a Bedford 3 tonner !
I always envied the Canadians and their perfect little berets.

Not true Brum. We shaped ours to. The preference was (if you were in Germany) was to get a Belgian one. They toned up nicely. When beret's came back in issue in 70/71 I got one from the Brockville Rifles (a reserve unit) as up until then only the Zipper Heads (Armoured Units) and Army reserves (militia in my day) wore berets. Also the UN Berets had to be shaped to. Still have mine from Egypt and Cyprus, both a bit gruby but then some of the grub is from Ellen's Bar in Nic. Still wear it on Nov 11 some times other times the old green beret with the old RC Sigs badge or Logistic badge. I have the choice.

brum wrote:

Remember ?
Blimey, I was doing it last year, my old beret had been condemned as unfit for human habitation so I had to shape a new one. What a performance, it was the size of the cupola cover on a Bedford 3 tonner !
I always envied the Canadians and their perfect little berets.

Is that you getting your SAS Beret ready for Armistice Parade - have you still got all those medals?



I always looked very smart (and attractive to the ladies) no matter what I wore, I have the bearing and physique! (Sniff)

I feel a Walt thread coming on.......

Gordon. wrote:

I feel a Walt thread coming on.......

You do ?

What's it going to be this year then ?

Long Range Desert Group should raise a few eyebrows, 'specially if you wear their distinctive headgear.

There was an odd sight on the news last night, at that big funeral in Manchester.

A bloke wearing a fawn coloured beret, with what looked like a circular, enamel badge of a RAF squadron pinned to it.

The thing is, he was carrying what looked like a standard of the RAF Association.

Somebody had better nip that one in the bud !

I always thought I looked especially dashing whilst wearing my Army issue raincoat (the original ones with the belt).

Quote :

Long Range Desert Group should raise a few eyebrows

I was thinking more ot the Royal Flying Corps

Quote :

A bloke wearing a fawn coloured beret, with what looked like a circular, enamel badge of a RAF squadron pinned to it.

Which news was this Brum?,Iv`e been on I Player and can`t find it.

Quote :

I always thought I looked especially dashing whilst wearing my Army issue raincoat (the original ones with the belt).

You know Shelldrake...It amazes me that you were never selected to model a warriers attire...

brum wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

I feel a Walt thread coming on.......

You do ?

What's it going to be this year then ?

Long Range Desert Group should raise a few eyebrows, 'specially if you wear their distinctive headgear.

I have always fancied wearing either a topi or a kepi .

And really have fancied wearing a bowler at remembrance sunday parades.

Shelldrake wrote:

I always thought I looked especially dashing whilst wearing my Army issue raincoat (the original ones with the belt).

Do you mean Macs, Flashing, ORs ?

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Long Range Desert Group should raise a few eyebrows

I was thinking more ot the Royal Flying Corps

Quote :

A bloke wearing a fawn coloured beret, with what looked like a circular, enamel badge of a RAF squadron pinned to it.

Which news was this Brum?,Iv`e been on I Player and can`t find it.

I didn't want to labour the point too much but it was the BBCs coverage of the funeral, in Manchester, of the first of the two policewomen that were killed.
It may well have been the local programme, "North West Tonight" Gordon.

Hardrations wrote:

brum wrote:

Remember ?
Blimey, I was doing it last year, my old beret had been condemned as unfit for human habitation so I had to shape a new one. What a performance, it was the size of the cupola cover on a Bedford 3 tonner !
I always envied the Canadians and their perfect little berets.

Not true Brum. We shaped ours to. The preference was (if you were in Germany) was to get a Belgian one. They toned up nicely. When beret's came back in issue in 70/71 I got one from the Brockville Rifles (a reserve unit) as up until then only the Zipper Heads (Armoured Units) and Army reserves (militia in my day) wore berets. Also the UN Berets had to be shaped to. Still have mine from Egypt and Cyprus, both a bit gruby but then some of the grub is from Ellen's Bar in Nic. Still wear it on Nov 11 some times other times the old green beret with the old RC Sigs badge or Logistic badge. I have the choice.

I agree about the UN berets but at least they shrank to a satisfactory size.
Do you mean people used to go into Ellen's bar to eat food ? I only went in there because she had air conditioning ! (When were you in Cyprus Hardrations ?).

Quote :

And really have fancied wearing a bowler at remembrance sunday parades.

And carrying a rolled up brolly perhaps????

[quote="pete26]

And really have fancied wearing a bowler at remembrance sunday parades.[/quote]



How very dare you, Officers Only dontchaknow? sniff

brum wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

I always thought I looked especially dashing whilst wearing my Army issue raincoat (the original ones with the belt).

Do you mean Macs, Flashing, ORs ?

That's the ones. We had a PRE Inspection parade in the 60's, dress was to be Best No 2 dress, best boots wearing macs. We rehearsed every morning for this, as you do, not once were were told to remove our Macs, on the "Big Day" I decided that my arm swinging would be heavily restricted by wearing my No 2 dress jacket so didn't put it on. When we marched on to the square the order was given to "Remove, Raincoats", I must have missed one of the rehearsals - I looked a right numptie stood standing there in my braces. The RSM and I fell out that day.

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

I always thought I looked especially dashing whilst wearing my Army issue raincoat (the original ones with the belt).

You know Shelldrake...It amazes me that you were never selected to model a warriers attire...

And me, quite fancied myself as a Poster Boy.

Shelldrake, you young ones were , we only had the army issue cape, But it did the job and was a good ground sheet, BUT OUR TANK SUITS WERE VERY WARM, But only made for the over six foot guys ,pity i am only 5,8,inch = low crotch...

Kieler sprotten believe or not when I was on Honest John they had electric blankets!

brum wrote:

Hardrations wrote:

brum wrote:

Remember ?
Blimey, I was doing it last year, my old beret had been condemned as unfit for human habitation so I had to shape a new one. What a performance, it was the size of the cupola cover on a Bedford 3 tonner !
I always envied the Canadians and their perfect little berets.

Not true Brum. We shaped ours to. The preference was (if you were in Germany) was to get a Belgian one. They toned up nicely. When beret's came back in issue in 70/71 I got one from the Brockville Rifles (a reserve unit) as up until then only the Zipper Heads (Armoured Units) and Army reserves (militia in my day) wore berets. Also the UN Berets had to be shaped to. Still have mine from Egypt and Cyprus, both a bit gruby but then some of the grub is from Ellen's Bar in Nic. Still wear it on Nov 11 some times other times the old green beret with the old RC Sigs badge or Logistic badge. I have the choice.

I agree about the UN berets but at least they shrank to a satisfactory size.
Do you mean people used to go into Ellen's bar to eat food ? I only went in there because she had air conditioning ! (When were you in Cyprus Hardrations ?).

I meant grub as in, " gruby". Lord I don't know if one could get food in Ellen's bar. There was always the Sub. Sandwhich Bar at the far end of Regina St. by the taxi stand. I did my tour in 76. With 466 Sig Tp R. Sigs attached out to the Danes in Xeros.