Equipment List

In order to present a proper appearance unit members must have the following list of items. It will take time and effort to acquire all the items on the list, so members have a year to complete their uniform and gear. For pictures or details on any of the items see our Uniforms and Equipment pages. Most items on this list are easily obtained from the vendors on our vendor links page or from within the unit.

The unit's preferred vendor is What Price Glory due to the broad inventory and consistently excellent service.

CLOTHING:

  • Battledress Blouse: Wartime issue is ideal, however postwar blouses are acceptable if they are converted or are a good reproduction of wartime BD. Members should try to match their blouse color with the trouser color. Brown is British, green is Canadian. (required) -- Click here to see a battle dress size chart.
  • Battledress Trousers: Wartime issue are very hard to find. Postwar pants are acceptable as long as they are converted with a FFD pocket and Map pocket, and correct style buttons. Again trouser color should match blouse color. (required)
  • Denison Smock: For reenacting purposes please do not wear an original smock unless it is in used condition help preserve a bit of history! Reproductions are preferred, do NOT get a postwar pattern smock, the color and pattern is noticeably different from wartime smocks. Either first pattern or second pattern smocks are acceptable. Second pattern smocks came out in 1943 so they would not be acceptable for battles before then. (required)
  • Socks: Wartime socks were gray wool. Postwar socks are fine as long as they are close to the proper gray color. Reproductions are available. (required)
  • Shirt Pullover style: British, Canadian wartime shirts are both ideal. Postwar and repro shirts are also acceptable as long as they are converted to wartime style.(required)
  • Braces (Suspenders): Khaki/white with leather tabs preferred, Police Brace with leather tabs are also acceptable. Repros are available as well. (required)
  • Maroon Beret: The beret MUST be FLOPPY. Repro, postwar or originals are all acceptable as long as they look floppy on your head! (required)
  • Boots: Wartime, repro and postwar are all acceptable as long as they are black and pebbled leather. Rubber soled boots are allowed until a reliable source of leather-soled boots becomes available. Hobnails and irons are preferred on leather-soled boots but not required. British boots had a toecap, Canadian boots did not. Leather laces are required. Boots will be "ladder laced".(required)
  • Para Helmet: Wartime, repro and postwar helmets are acceptable as long as it looks like a para helmet! Dispatch, armored, Israeli, Belgian conversions are acceptable as long as the proper chinstrap is used. Helmet nets are preferred, scrim is optional. (required)
  • Pullover sweater: Hard to find original ones, usually worn under the BD blouse.(optional)
  • Parachutist Trousers: Wartime issue is impossible to find. Postwar conversions are acceptable. This pattern is available from unit members. (optional)
  • String vest: either style is fine, with or without gathered shoulders. Postwar dated vests are fine also. These are worn either under or over the shirt.(optional)

EQUIPMENT:

  • Web waist belt: Must have brass hardware, wartime and postwar are acceptable. (required)
  • Basic Pouches (2): Must have brass hardware. Snap closure not toggle closure. Wartime and postwar are acceptable. (required)
  • Web Braces (pair): Make sure you get a correct pair, one strap should have a loop for the other strap to X through. (required)
  • Bayonet and Frog (carrier): No. 4 spike bayonet only. (required)
  • Light Respirator Bag: Green late war 44 pattern. (required)
  • Web Rifle Sling: postwar dated acceptable. (required)
  • Web Gaiters: wartime and postwar dated acceptable. Indian made examples are cheap looking and not acceptable. (required)
  • Small Pack and L straps: brass hardware, postwar dated examples are acceptable. (required)
  • Entrenching Tool and Carrier: Early and late pattern E-tools are acceptable, late pattern carrier preferred. (required)
  • Water Bottle and Carrier: Skeleton carrier preferred. (required)
  • Gray Blanket: Wartime and postwar examples acceptable, British and Australian. Correct blankets are a dark gray with a blue stripe.(required)
  • Mess Tin: Wartime and postwar examples acceptable. Stay away from the lead versions! (required)
  • Tea Mug: Wartime and postwar versions acceptable, dark brown, green, or white. (required)
  • ID Disks: Wartime or repro are acceptable. (required)
  • Pay Book: Repro only. Currently hard to find, when they become available they will be considered a required item.(optional)
  • Utensils: Spoon, knife and fork, should be British or Canadian made, wartime preferred. (optional)
  • Tommy Cooker: (optional)
  • Wool Gloves: Must be wartime pattern, green/brown wool. (optional)
  • FS Fighting Knife: Wartime and postwar examples acceptable. (optional)
  • Jack Knife: Wartime dated preferred. (optional)
  • Ground Sheet/Gas Cape: Either item acceptable, postwar versions are not as desirable but acceptable. (optional)
  • Housewife Sewing Kit: (optional)
  • Holdall with Shaving Gear: (optional)
  • Light Respirator: Very hard to find, postwar dated examples are acceptable. (optional)

INSIGNIA:

  • Cap Badge: King's Crown only, wartime and restrikes acceptable. Repro plastic is preferred over a restrike. Canadian troops will wear 1 Can Para cap badges, British para will wear Parachute Regiment cap badges. (required)
  • Pegasus divisional patches and Airborne arm-of-service strips: Wartime or reproduction, printed or woven. The wearing of airborne strips is optional for paratroops. (required)
  • Shoulder Arcs: Wartime or reproduction, printed or woven. Canadians will wear 1 Can Para titles, British para will wear Parachute Regiment titles. (required)
  • Rank Insignia: (See unit commander.)

WEAPONS:

  • No. 4 Mk.1/II .303 Enfield (required)
  • Mk. II/III/V STEN Gun (optional)
  • Side Arms (See unit commander.)