The Adventurer's Gear Thread

[Baron Kurtz]

I'm so glad to see shorts with that kind of blousy leg fitting. This is how all my British military shorts fit, and i always thought it was weird. Now know it's not weird - it's original!

bk

 

[cookie]

sachsahuayman

Hat...always an Adenturebilt (unless I'm going somewhere really, really hot, then I wear an old Knox Panama).

Sunglasses...Raybans, baby!

Jacket...US Authentic A2, lambskin

Shirt...whatever, usually an REI long sleeve, although I in this photo (at Sacsaywaman, above Cusco, Peru) I'm just wearing a polo shirt.

Pants...Rei convertible pants, so I can wear 'em as shorts when it's hot.

Shoes...Keen sandles, LL Bean loafers, or REI hiking shoes....

If my eyes don't deceive me you have your backside propped against the walls of the aforesaid 15c Inca fortress no es verdad? They say you can't put a piece of paper between the stones. Having been there I agree. Now there are stonemasons for you!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[cookie]

Bombay Bloomers

I'm so glad to see shorts with that kind of blousy leg fitting. This is how all my British military shorts fit, and i always thought it was weird. Now know it's not weird - it's original!

bk

Is that what these are or was the infamous Bombay bloomer blousier in the leg?

 

[Cobden]

Very interesting! Thanks, Cobden. With enough info, then, you could almost identify units by the style campaign shirt they were wearing?

Also interesting about the aertex shirts. I never really wear my WPG aertex because of the weird way the cuffs are sewn. I'd probably get a lot more actual use out of it if I cut down the sleeves. Now that I know it was done, it's an attractive option. I also noticed that the corporal in the cut down aertex is wearing chevrons on both sleeves. Was that also an India tradition?

Cutting down sleeve's did happen, but was officially banned (the idea being that you could roll the sleeves down in the evening to prevent mosquito bites) - but still acceptable, especially during the early years (I reckon the photo in the aertex is probably from around 1941).

The rank on the two sleeves is something I didn't notice before, and is rather intriguing: firstly, I've never come across KD coloured rank insignia being used by the army before; all other photo's shew either white tape on shirts or bush shirts, or the same insignia as on the BD on the high collared service dress - only the RAF seem to have used KD rank insignia. I suspect this might be a unit thing, or just a personal thing for walking out; perhaps even just sewn on for the formal photograph.

The chap on the left (the same chap in the middle photo) is also interesting, in that he's wearing a Sam Browne belt without a cross strap. I'd hazard a guess and say he was promoted to second lieutenant from the ranks (there appears to be a pip on his shoulders, as well), all thought I could be wrong on this - he might just have shoulder titles on and have gotten hold of a fancy belt!

 

[Yorker]

I'm so glad to see shorts with that kind of blousy leg fitting. This is how all my British military shorts fit, and i always thought it was weird. Now know it's not weird - it's original!

bk

On the forum I originally got these pictures from (actually a UK Land Rover Enthusiast forum) there were a few comments about the shorts- people clearly aren't used to that style anymore- are they?! I've been meaning to buy some of the kit from WPG, I never wear shorts though, modern or otherwise. I'm like my grandfather and wear long pants year 'round regardless of temperatures. I think those shorts- much like sun helmets, are not something I could pull off in my day to day attire.

 

[Rooster]

HAH! I have a pair of those shorts from WPG and I havn't had the courage to wear them in public either. I bought the high wool socks to go with them too. I havn't worn any shorts in years....

 

[Mojave Jack]

Shorts I'll wear...My WPG shorts, not so much. In fact, the first time I put them on my wife laughed outright! They were huge! I've since had them altered a little, so now they look more like the chaps in the above photos. Nonetheless, I haven't ever had the stones to wear them out of the house.

Cobden, a followup question on the chevrons. Did the Army sew them directly to the sleeve, or were they sewn on a KD patch and then fastened on with press studs? Is this the style of chevrons from BD that the army would have used on KD?

 

[Yorker]

Here is what he had to say about the pics

My father was in the Kings Own Liverpool Regiment 1st Battalion and he was in India/N.W.Frontier from 1935 - 1939 and after that Burma.

If you can get hold of a copy of The King`s Regiment 1914-1948 by Lt.-Colonel J.J. Burke-Gaffney,MC it is a comprehensive and factual account of all their military campaigns, a truly excellent book.

There is one or two that may be from before they went over, Since there appears to be interest I'll post the remaining pics:

this is a shot before they went to the NWF:

once there:

on parade:

Agroup shot with some decent details of the contrast between uniforms of ORs vs. Officers:

...and the band:

Out at the bazaar:

and the King's birthday:

I hope you guys find them interesting, I'll see if I can find my Grandfather's pics from his service in the 11th Engineer Regiment in the 1930's in Panama, they are pretty neat, Sun helmets, campaign hats etc. You know, that is one thing I don't think I've seen in this thread and they are a perfectly valid "Adventurer's" headgear- the Montana peak hats.

 

[Rooster]

that is one thing I don't think I've seen in this thread and they are a perfectly valid "Adventurer's" headgear- the Montana peak hats.

My version:

 

[Mojave Jack]

They certainly are an excellent piece of adventure headgear! I can't think of a better endoresement than Roy Chapman Andrews, either.

I think they're association with drill instructors has pretty much overshadowed their previous associations, though. There is a significant amount on the earlier campaign hats, like the M1884 and so forth in the hats forum. Our own Deanglen has been almsot single-handedly keeping interest in those campaign hats alive and well.

For me, I'd like one, but the two holes in the brim right over the ears makes them less than desirable for anything other than bright sunny days. We have plenty of those in the desert, to be sure, but it is such a gamble trying to find a decent fur felt version versus the ubiquiteous wool versions. I've never been willing to gamble on some I've seen come and go on the 'bay, though I've watched many come and go!

 

[Cobden]

Shorts I'll wear...My WPG shorts, not so much. In fact, the first time I put them on my wife laughed outright! They were huge! I've since had them altered a little, so now they look more like the chaps in the above photos. Nonetheless, I haven't ever had the stones to wear them out of the house.

Cobden, a followup question on the chevrons. Did the Army sew them directly to the sleeve, or were they sewn on a KD patch and then fastened on with press studs? Is this the style of chevrons from BD that the army would have used on KD?

Yes, that's the style that was worn the service dress tunic (with some excpetions; some regiments had special rank chevrons, guardsmen wore gold on blue chevrons from their patrol dress...it's very confusing to say the least!). The press studs were sen directly onto the serge backing; if I wasn't at home for christmas, I could shew you some photo's. On the cellular and wool shirts, and the bush shirts, and indeed jumpers, it was just white tape folded into a chevron. This some some off a JG shirt; unfortunately the pics upside down! Note the improvised crown...

 

[Yorker]

They certainly are an excellent piece of adventure headgear! I can't think of a better endoresement than Roy Chapman Andrews, either.

I've wanted one ever since I was in Boy Scouts, I've NEVER found one big enough- even the extra large ones I've seen are too small. :rage: I suppose with the rise in popularity of stuff like Cowboy Action Shooting I might be able to find a specialist akin to Clearwater Hats who can make me one. NONE of the vintage ones comes close to fitting though. The DI/Trooper image kind of overshadows their original use but I think they might be a decent day to day field hat, I'll have to get one and try it out. It would have a lot more class and character than the ubiquitous Boonie hat.

 

[RBH]

My version:

Wow Rooster! NOW THAT is an "Adventurer's" hat!!! :eusa_clap

 

[carter]

I've wanted one ever since I was in Boy Scouts, I've NEVER found one big enough- even the extra large ones I've seen are too small. :rage: I suppose with the rise in popularity of stuff like Cowboy Action Shooting I might be able to find a specialist akin to Clearwater Hats who can make me one. NONE of the vintage ones comes close to fitting though. The DI/Trooper image kind of overshadows their original use but I think they might be a decent day to day field hat, I'll have to get one and try it out. It would have a lot more class and character than the ubiquitous Boonie hat.

The Boy Scout model is sold in BSA stores nationwide.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Can we get a pic of you wearing this?

 

[Mojave Jack]

Can we get a pic of you wearing this?

Happy to! Is it my size? Oh, wait, did you mean me?

Yorker, you said earlier your a size 8. Is that literal? Stratton makes up to a size 7-7/8, but they might stretch to an 8.

 

[stevechasmar]

Air Cav Uniform and Hat

The guy on the left looks so much like Robert Duvall's character in Apocalypse Now that it's hard to believe the character wasn't somehow based on him. I found this slide in the photograph archive of Bangkok's Mahidol University School of Tropical Medicine while looking for photographs to illustrate a book I was working on. I say "archive" but these slides were haphazardly piled in one of those metal file cabinets and rotting away in the humidity. My guess is that they were taken by a group of Thai doctors who were visiting South Vietnam during the war.

 

[carter]

Battledress Blouses

Here are a couple more pics from the same fellow:

The battledress blouse on the left looks like a pullover. The one on the right appears to be full-buttoning.

Does anyone have any information on these?

Were they standard issue for North Africa and/or the tropics?

 

[eightbore]

OK....

Given the below, what was the original shape of the campaign hat???


http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archiv...91239E733A25757C2A9679C946197D6CF&oref=slogin


[huh] [huh] [huh]

 

[Trotsky]

The guy on the left looks so much like Robert Duvall's character in Apocalypse Now that it's hard to believe the character wasn't somehow based on him. I found this slide in the photograph archive of Bangkok's Mahidol University School of Tropical Medicine while looking for photographs to illustrate a book I was working on. I say "archive" but these slides were haphazardly piled in one of those metal file cabinets and rotting away in the humidity. My guess is that they were taken by a group of Thai doctors who were visiting South Vietnam during the war.

Must have been a dress function, Helicopter Units wore the Slouch hats as an optional dress item for officers or just private purchase. When they really wanted to dress to impress, the hat came out. From your description these guys belonged to an Air Evac Unit. Absolutely fascinating.

Edit: And the spurs, just noticed them.