IN PROGRESS
The PIB were clothed and equipped by the British. And as a consequence the appearance of the brigade was the same as the British Tommy but with specific Prinses Irene insignia.
These notes are focussed on the items that will be encountered on the MM2025 trip and are not meant to be a comprehensive study of all uniform and equipment in use by British and/or Commonwealth equipped forces during WW2.
Uniform
The full range of British army clothing was issued to the Brigade. All patterns of battle dress were seen over the service of the unit.
The basic uniform would consist of a khaki/brown coloured woollen serge short waisted blouse (with 2 external chest pockets) and trousers (with a field dressing pocket on the upper right thigh and a large “map pocket” on the left thigh. In addition there were a number of internal pockets). There were different patterns of this suit – Battle Dress Serge (sometimes called 37 pattern), 40 Pattern and 40 Austerity Pattern.
There were also specialised trousers for parachutists and commandos but they would not be seen in the Brigade units.
Service Dress (SD) for commissioned and warrant officers was obtained via private purchase from tailors (or second hand from other officers). In theory there would be a preferred tailor for a unit and they would hold the necessary regimental dress regulations so that there would be a degree of uniformity in dress. However, variations were inevitable. The SD tunic was an open collar, 4 pocket garment usually made from a khaki brown barathea material. Whilst the tunic had shoulder straps the Brigade officers wore their rank on the lapels. The national lion emblem was worn on the left sleeve. Shoulder titles were not worn, instead a metal cypher was attached to the shoulder strap. A thin orange lanyard was worn on the left shoulder (looping around the top of the arm, under the shoulder strap, with the free end being carried across the left breast to the left chest pocket).
Undergarments were also of wool and comprised socks, drawers, undershirts and a collarless shirt (though late in the war collared shirts began to be issued). Also not forgetting items such as scarves, gloves, cap comforters, balaclavas etc.
To fight against the elements troops were issued a variety of outer garments including wool greatcoats and a serge lined leather jerkin. Also issued was a rubberised cotton multi use groundsheet cape. As its name implies it could be used as a ground cover but also a type of poncho. Troops also used their anti-gas capes as wet weather garments. These capes were originally issued to protect against liquid chemical attack and so their use against the rain was logical. In addition there was the despatch rider clothing and any private purchase rain gear such as trench coats/Macintoshes etc,
Headwear
For the infantrymen of the Brigade the British issue MkII steel helmet was the standard combat headgear throughout the conflict. It was worn plain (early period) and later with a camouflage net and attached scrim. The Brigade also used a colour decal/transfer of the national lion placed on the left side of the helmet.
Decal
Members of armoured vehicle crews (such as in the Brigade reconnaissance unit) would receive the RAC helmet. Despatch riders would have the motorcyclists crash helmet.
In the early days of the Brigade the standard khaki/brown Field Service Cap was used. This was fitted with the Dutch national lion cap badge (in brass/gilding metal). Officers could also wear the Service Dress cap with the national lion badge made in “officer’s service dress bronze”.
As with the rest of the British army it wasn’t long before the troops were getting bored with the sea of khaki that their dress produced (as well as now having to compete for the attention of the ladies against the newly arrived and better dressed US servicemen). Soon FSC’s began appearing in bright regimental and corps colours – these were known (unimaginatively) as Coloured Field Service Caps (CFSC). For the PIB the Other Rank’s CFSC had a black body and an orange crown, with orange piping to the upper edges of the side pieces. The standard national lion cap badge was fixed to the left hand side usually with an orange badge backing. The side pieces met in the centre of the front and were joined by 2 small brass buttons – either showing the Dutch lion or standard British General Service buttons.
The officer’s CFSC followed the same basic pattern but was made out of better quality materials and had gold bullion wire piping to the crown, front flap and side pieces. A number of different cap badges can be encountered in use including gilt and bullion embroidered versions of the national lion cap badge. Again with or without a badge backing.
Eventually the khaki FSC was replaced by the General Service Cap (GS cap – or “cap ridiculous” as it was known!). Made from khaki wool the cap resembled a beret but many soldiers didn’t like it as it was felt to give a scruffy appearance. Officers could again obtain tailor made versions made from better quality materials and a slightly smarter cut. Cap badges tended to be the relevant metal versions on an orange background.
Officers could also obtain “proper” khaki woollen berets and this was quite common.
There were other items of headdress in use within the Brigade namely OR Service Dress caps, the maroon beret of the airborne forces worn by parachute qualified personnel serving with the airborne divisions and the black RAC/RTR beret worn by the Brigade reconnaissance unit.
Footwear
For the vast majority of the Brigade the standard footwear would be the ammunition boot. This was an ankle high boot usually of black dyed leather and fastened with leather laces. It had a leather sole and had, at our period of interest, 13 hob nails and a small metal toe plate in the front sole and metal “horseshoe” on the bottom of the heel.
Officers could purchase their own ankle boots. These were usually brown dyed but officers often obtained issued black boots for field wear. Other styles of boot such as the Officer’s Field Boot could also be purchased.
The boots were worn with web anklets. Made form the same material as the webbing equipment they also received an appropriate treatment of blanco. These anklets helped to keep stones, twigs etc out of the boot as well as retaining the bottom of the trousers. They did not really offer any additional support to the ankle.
Standard British plimsole (gym shoes) were issued for PT, relaxing and were sometimes worn on patrols to increase stealth (noise reduction).