The Denison Smock (Click on the pictures for a large-size version.)

The Denison smock was named after its designer, Major Denison. It was first introduced for use by the newly formed Airborne Forces in 1941. It was intended to be worn over a soldier’s battle-dress with the web equipment worn over the top of the smock. The smock was a “pull-over” garment with the neck opening having a short zipper that reached to the bottom of the chest. The smock had two internal chest pockets accessed from the inside and four external patch pockets with brass “newey” stud snap fasteners, two of these pockets on the chest and two lower on the front skirt. The collar was lined with Angola wool. The shoulder epaulets were fastened with battle-dress style buttons. A distinctive feature of the Denison smock is the tailpiece which fastened through the wearers legs to the front of the smock forming a “diaper” and drawing the sides of the smock in tight around the legs. In addition there was a snap adjustment on the skirt to further tighten the fit. The camouflage pattern is a distinct “mop-brush” style pattern with large streaks. This style lends quite a bit of variation between smocks due to the hand applied nature of the dyes to the fabric. As part of the manufacturing process the pieces of the smock were cut out in an assembly-line fashion and sewn together without regard to matching camouflage patterns. This means that no two Denison smocks are the same. There are two distinct patterns of Denison smock. The “first pattern” smock features knit cuffs, tapered sleeves, and a longer body. The “second pattern” smock has button closure cuffs, tube shaped sleeves and a shorter body. The camouflage colors between the two patterns also differ. The first pattern smocks tend to have more yellow with green and brown. The second pattern smocks have less yellow with darker greens and more reddish browns. This difference is thought to mimic the changing terrain that the airborne forces encountered. The yellow colors of the first pattern smock being more suited for North Africa, Sicily and Italy while the darker second pattern colors were designed with the invasion of France and Northern Europe in mind. Pictured is an original wartime “first pattern” smock. Dated 1942. Detail photos show the “newey” style snap fasteners, zipper closure, collar construction, embroidered armpit vents, tailpiece and the overall unique nature of the camouflage pattern. Related Links What Price Glory (Preferred vendor for all uniform and equipment purchases.) Uniforms of the Paras Equipment of the Paras Weapons of the Paras