Equipment
The standard webbing equipment for the Brigade was the standard British 37 Pattern. For the standard infantryman in of one of the combat companies this would have consisted of a belt, utility pouches x2, cross straps x2, a small pack with L-straps, bayonet frog, water bottle and web carrier, entrenching tool (metal mattock like head, wooden haft and webbing carrier) and a large pack.
The utility pouches were designed to accommodate a wide range of magazines and ordnance. They could hold Sten, Thompson and Bren magazines, bandoliers of .303, various grenades and bombs, 2″ mortar rounds etc. The standard carry for an infantry rifleman was 100 rounds of 303 (50 in a bandolier worn across the body, 50 in a bandolier in a utility pouch), 2 Bren gun magazines and any bombs (grenades) or other items issued to them.
Worn with this was a light assault respirator in its carry bag. This was usually worn via its shoulder strap so that it sat on the left hip of the soldier. There was provision for this bag to be attached to the belt via C-clips should the soldier want – this was commonly seen in the airborne forces but no so much in standard infantry formations.
There we various other specific to task pouches and carriers that could be seen, such as cases (holsters) for pistols, cleaning kits for Brens and mortars, spare barrel and parts carriers, wire cutters etc.
The webbing was very hard wearing. Given its light colour it was treated with a compound known as BLANCO. This, in theory, not only protected the webbing but also coloured it too so that the camouflage of the individual was not compromised by the untreated webbing’s light yellow-brown colour. Blanco came in a variety of shades (light green/pea green, medium green, dark green, sand etc) and some regiments stuck to a particular shade where possible – others adopted the darker green shade KG3 for combat operations. For significant parades or events and some duty roles (e.g. military police) there was white blanco.
The groundsheet cape was usually folded and stored under the flap of the small pack, providing a degree of weather proofing for the contents. The gas cape was usually rolled and strapped to the rear of the belt.
Weapons
The brigade received the full range of infantry battalion level firearms and weapons in addition to its 25-pounders, anti-aircraft guns and medium machine guns.
Grenades
No36, No77, Hawkins Mine
Pistols
The standard pistols were the Smith and Weston, Enfield and Webley .38 calibre 6-shot revolvers. These would be issued to soldiers operating some crew served weapons, operating in confined spaces where the ability to carry a full size weapon was limited and to officers and senior NCO’s. There was a specific variant of the Enfield, the No2 MkI* for those interested, where the hammer spur was reduced to avoid snagging and was issued to AFV crews. The removal of the spur effectively turned these revolvers into double action only.
Rifles
The main rifle for our period of interest is the Lee Enfield No4 rifle. It is a 303 calibre short stroke bolt action rifle with a removable 10 round magazine. Though riflemen were issued a second magazine the usual method of reloading was via 5-round stripper clips.
Earlier in the war the Brigade were issued with SMLE’s and P14 rifles, both in .303 calibre. There is the possibility that they also used the P17 in .30-06 calibre
Submachine Guns
Within the Brigade combat companies there were, in essence, 3 types of machine guns – submachine guns (in British parlance machine carbines), light machine guns and medium machine guns.
The submachine guns (SMG) were capable of both semi and automatic fire. They used pistol calibre ammunition e.g. 9mm and .45 ACP. The main SMG’s in the Brigade were the Sten and the Thompson.
The Sten was a 9mm calibre weapon and the Brigade would see the issue of both the MkII and MkIII versions, with the MkIII being by far the most common during our period of interest. The Sten used a32-round box/stick magazine but these were usually loaded to a lower capacity so as to not stress the magazine springs (weakened springs could lead to failure to feed stoppages).
The Thompson, the famous Tommy Gun of the popular gangster films of the period, fired the larger .45 ACP round. There were 20-round stick magazines and a xx-round drum magazine. Both the M1928 and M1928A1 versions were issued. The Sten replaced the earlier issue of Thompsons. This was not only to ease logistics (the Sten was a UK designed and manufactured weapon) but the Thompsons had to be bought from the USA and were very, very expensive.
The SMG’s were usually issued to the Section and Platoon Commanders. Officers would sometimes swap their SMG’s for a rifle to try and look like a normal infantryman and thereby reduce their exposure to sniper fire (officers, NCO’s, radio men, machine gunners and other specialist roles were priority targets for snipers) .
Light Machine Guns
The standard section support weapon was the Bren light machine gun. Developed from the Czech ZGB design the Bren was introduced into service in September 1937. It was a gas operated, box fed selective fire weapon that was able to be fired from its integral bipod but also mounted on to tripods and other mounts. It used the same .303 calibre round as the No4 rifle. Rapid barrel changes were facilitated via the quick release barrel mechanism.
The curved magazine had a capacity of 30 rounds but like the SMG magazines was usually loaded below that. The magazine was inserted vertically into the top of the receiver. This required the sights to be offset to the left side of the weapon. There was a 100-round pan magazine available for use in the anti-aircraft role.
In use the Bren was part of the “gun group” in each section. This group, in theory, consisted of the gun No1 (who carried and fired the weapon), the No2 who changed magazines whilst the gun was in operation but also functioned as an ammunition carrier and the finally the gun group commander. The gun group commander was the section second in command (usually holding the appointment of Lance Corporal) who oversaw the tactical deployment and use of the weapon. In order ensure sufficient magazines were available specific pouches were produced for their carriage. Known as Supplementary Pouches ( or “Supps”) these were larger than the standard utility pouches enabling 12 magazines to be carried. The 2 pouches of the system were joined together by a webbing strap to allow them to slung around the neck or across the shoulder.
There were 2 main versions of the Bren that would have been seen within the Brigade – the Mark I and Mark II. The MkII would be the version in use during the later war period, The MkII design allowed simpler manufacturing, the removal of unused features and a reduction in weight.
The Bren had an effective range of around 600 yards (550 m) when fired from a prone position with a bipod. It could deliver a beaten ground of 115 yds (105m) by 33 yds (12m) at 1,000 yds (910 m) on the bipod. A realistic ‘rapid’ fire rate of 120 rounds per minute (four magazines a minute) was sustainable with a barrel change after ten magazines (or reduction in fire rate) to limit wear but doctrine was to fire in 4-5 round bursts.
The Bren was a very well regarded weapon and various versions continued on in service with armies across the right up until the late 20th century.
Vickers MMG
Mortars
2- and 3-inch mortars
Anti-tank
PIAT
6-pounder
Anti-aircraft
Artillery
25-pounder
Radios
18 Set and 38 Set