At last I found a good tutorial about the way to fold correctly my ground sheet. I bought one, with all the stuff of a Normandy campaign Tommy, nearly 30 years ago but still didn't know how to manage it (though it seems I wasn't so wrong...). So thanks mate, the hardest part now is to really fold it as mine is a genuine WW2 one, and a little stiff...
Thank you! I think the Dutch examples were copied off the post-war British green canvas exmaples. I think I might actually have one in the loft somewhere, a dutch example that is.
Thank you that's a fabulous demo. I'm not a reenactor but I do love old school kit. I have the SoF offering which I really like. I wear this with over trousers underneath when I'm just out and about. Lovely bit of kit and good for general use.
Definitely worth buying. A really practical and useful bit of reenacting kit. I am hopeful What Price Glory might start manufacturing the earlier Mk VI and V ground sheets at some point.
Almost as.if you read my mind. Thank you so much for doing this! I Do have another question exactly how did UK troops put their ammo into their pouches and then get it out? How much do the pouches hold? Love your channel!
Certainly something we can look at in the future but as a guide the average rifleman carried two Bren magazines in one pouch, a 50 round bandolier of ammunition and a couple of grenades in the other.
I am interested in replacing the black buttons of my WPG raincape. Where can I buy (or see close up pictures of original buttons to guide me. Also, what size are originals?
We were issued a green version of this in the Marine cadets 1976-77. OK for wearing but useless for making a shelter, the "new" poncho was light years ahead.
Gas capes are a different beast entirely, much thinner and made of linseed-impregnated cloth, they also have sleeves. Perhaps some confusion at the time?
Apologies for digging up this old video Simon, a quick question if I may. I recently got my hands on a similar Ground sheet for my British impression but of a green colour. Unfortunately the makers stamp has become very faded over the decades and is practically illegible. I believe that it is [post-war but I was wondering if could add anything. Were all wartime examples of brown colour? Do you know of any change to green in the post war period? Many thanks
The change to green appears to have occurred in the early '50s. The brown rubberised examples are early WW2, followed by tan examples which are the same material/construction as the green, just differing in colour. A couple of wartime examples are considered in this video; th-cam.com/video/tEVX8Ip_myk/w-d-xo.html
Did these come in different sizes? I have a green one (I think Dutch) but it seems made for a pencil-necked child, both the "shoulder" and the collar are quite small...
Another great video.. I see lot's of postwar versions on eBay. Are these acceptable for reenacting due to the colour? Or better find a repro which I presume are Brown?
I have a rectangle shaped Ground sheet in tan and one in the dark brown rubberised material both early to mid Forties dated, was this model used with the Fighting Order? My Mk 7 is in tan mid Forties dated.
@@RiflemanMoore defo 1965? printed clear as day...... hanging in wardrobe, ya know anyone that wants it? cost me £2.00 so if they pay post its free to good home..
It’s my understanding that the commando’s didn’t typically wear helmets in battle, I guess they were just made of tough stuff and didn’t mind getting wet, and probably had no use for a rain cape. So for re-enactment purposes can I get away with breaking tradition and use a helmet and rain cape or just tough it out and keep with realism?
At last I found a good tutorial about the way to fold correctly my ground sheet. I bought one, with all the stuff of a Normandy campaign Tommy, nearly 30 years ago but still didn't know how to manage it (though it seems I wasn't so wrong...). So thanks mate, the hardest part now is to really fold it as mine is a genuine WW2 one, and a little stiff...
The Dutch Army used a copy of this into the late 1980s, only difference was it was green. Great video as always
Thank you! I think the Dutch examples were copied off the post-war British green canvas exmaples. I think I might actually have one in the loft somewhere, a dutch example that is.
As i own one, i wanted to say that this video was very usefull , especialy of the folding tutorial. Thanks sir
Thank you that's a fabulous demo. I'm not a reenactor but I do love old school kit. I have the SoF offering which I really like. I wear this with over trousers underneath when I'm just out and about. Lovely bit of kit and good for general use.
I have always wanted one. So i ordered and got it today. Excellent
I got myself one thanks to this video thanks
Only thing is that my head is too big and the button is too tight across my face
Many thanks, that's a much better method than the one I was using! They still made them post war albeit in green instead.
Indeed so, in the same rough textured canvas as the tan examples. It's interesting with the changes that the Mark designation never advanced further.
Useful tip - I shall be purchasing one of these!
Definitely worth buying. A really practical and useful bit of reenacting kit. I am hopeful What Price Glory might start manufacturing the earlier Mk VI and V ground sheets at some point.
Really great and educational video! Just got one of these reproductions for Christmas and can't wait to use it
Excellent!
Interesting stuff; and I see you're a gamer as well 👍
Almost as.if you read my mind. Thank you so much for doing this! I Do have another question exactly how did UK troops put their ammo into their pouches and then get it out? How much do the pouches hold? Love your channel!
Certainly something we can look at in the future but as a guide the average rifleman carried two Bren magazines in one pouch, a 50 round bandolier of ammunition and a couple of grenades in the other.
@@RiflemanMoore Thank you
These are very similar to the capes used by the Dutch army in the 50s-70s
I am interested in replacing the black buttons of my WPG raincape. Where can I buy (or see close up pictures of original buttons to guide me. Also, what size are originals?
We were issued a green version of this in the Marine cadets 1976-77. OK for wearing but useless for making a shelter, the "new" poncho was light years ahead.
What are the dimensions of the cape? I’ve been trying to find information to try and make my own but haven’t had much luck :P
Do you have any measurements could use to replicate/sew this Ground Sheet / Rain Coat ?
In my day (where they issued Poncho’s), but these where still hanging around they where called ‘Gas Capes’.
Gas capes are a different beast entirely, much thinner and made of linseed-impregnated cloth, they also have sleeves. Perhaps some confusion at the time?
Nice! Thanks for the Information.
I'm glad you found it informative!
is there any chance you could measure it so i could make my own one?
78"x36" exclusive of the cape portion & collar, that you see @ 5:50 on the Diagram.
Just watched a so called historian get mad at a video game where characters wore these because he thought they were capes. :/
Thanks for sharing !
Glad you enjoyed.
Great video as per usual Any chance you could do a video of how to fold a great coat into the large pack many thanks toby
I'll see what I can do!
Brilliant thank you
That is a mystic art.
Apologies for digging up this old video Simon, a quick question if I may. I recently got my hands on a similar Ground sheet for my British impression but of a green colour. Unfortunately the makers stamp has become very faded over the decades and is practically illegible. I believe that it is [post-war but I was wondering if could add anything. Were all wartime examples of brown colour? Do you know of any change to green in the post war period? Many thanks
The change to green appears to have occurred in the early '50s. The brown rubberised examples are early WW2, followed by tan examples which are the same material/construction as the green, just differing in colour. A couple of wartime examples are considered in this video; th-cam.com/video/tEVX8Ip_myk/w-d-xo.html
@@RiflemanMoore many thanks
As a dutch soldier i use the Dutch version up til 1990 😁 with the same webbing ....
Did these come in different sizes? I have a green one (I think Dutch) but it seems made for a pencil-necked child, both the "shoulder" and the collar are quite small...
It is better than nothing...about right.
Another great video.. I see lot's of postwar versions on eBay. Are these acceptable for reenacting due to the colour? Or better find a repro which I presume are Brown?
Green is post war, pick up a repro. I do discus these more in the video dealing with 1937 Pattern haversack contents.
Rifleman Moore Thanks... your videos are a Godsend for someone putting together their first kit. I’m a fan :)
I have a rectangle shaped Ground sheet in tan and one in the dark brown rubberised material both early to mid Forties dated, was this model used with the Fighting Order?
My Mk 7 is in tan mid Forties dated.
That I do, I value my kit.
Where can I buy this reproduction british MKVII tommy rain cape ?
I know soldier of fortune have them but last time I checked they where out of stock
@alexvendomegardner8931 Thank you, much appreciated for the kind info.
i've a plain green canvas one printed on the inside 1965? issued to looe (cornwall) a,c,f
Interesting, very late date if so. More likely 1955?
@@RiflemanMoore defo 1965? printed clear as day...... hanging in wardrobe, ya know anyone that wants it? cost me £2.00 so if they pay post its free to good home..
When did the green coloured ground sheets come into service?
Post-war, as far as I'm aware, all the examples I have seen have been dated early to mid 1950s.
Interesting contrast to a Yank...a ground sheet that can be worn as rain gear, as compared to a poncho that can be seconded as a ground sheet...
That would change progressively in the 1950s and by the 1960s Britain had also switched to a poncho, very similar to the US example.
Mystery solved, thanks alot... :)
What mystery?
@@RiflemanMoore How to fold the ground sheet properly... :)
Ahah! Excellent.
So, in what year they started calling it a "pancho"?
It was never referred to as a poncho as it isn't a poncho.
@@RiflemanMoore Sorry, I misspelled poncho... It does looks very much like a poncho... a very fancy one of that.
It’s my understanding that the commando’s didn’t typically wear helmets in battle, I guess they were just made of tough stuff and didn’t mind getting wet, and probably had no use for a rain cape. So for re-enactment purposes can I get away with breaking tradition and use a helmet and rain cape or just tough it out and keep with realism?
It depends on the specific operation, it wasn't that uncommon for Commandos to wear helmets, the raid on St Nazaire being a good example.
Are these able to be blancoed?