Commonwealth Division

[pbi]

sorry to but in . I may or may not be of help as i live to far away (Scotland UK) I am 47 years old and have served 22 years in the army and also bean collecting Brit army kit for over 30 years mostly WWII but my mane interest has always been in the Korean war as my father was there with the 1st BW he was a regular and served in WWII until 1955 .i have a lot of photo that he gave me . I also run a small group that do the 7th KOSB 1944 but have now talked them into moving on to 1950s so my wish is coming to portray the a small part of the Korean war . as you all say it is the forgotten war and its no different over here my father is so angry that its took 50 years for the UK government to put up a memorial for all . any how i wont ramble on but if i can be of any help just ask . keep up the grate work that you are all doing :pete

[pbi]

just thought that youd like to see this my dad has kept it since 1952 its a news paper clipping from a well known Scottish paper

[Mk2 Vickers gunner]

Well done PBI !!! Cheers to you and also for your Dad's service.

Wishing you all the best with the KW impression.

When I get out with the WW2 reenacting gang, I do an Argyll & Sutherland impression for Europe 1944 and am now learning about what the Jocks of the 1950's would have went thru and so on.

Cheers, Johnnie.

[pbi]

thanks for getting back i was just about to give up and then you answered I have been portraying WWII for the last 10 years but have always wanted to do the KW and last week i was over in Ulster and met up with a few guys that do Australian and American KW so i now have the opportunity to do it i will do the Black watch my dads unite ,? Argyle & Sutherland i think i have some photos of them going out to Korea form Japan i will see if i can post them

[Mk2 Vickers gunner]

Very good sir. Happy to oblige you.

I have been reading along the narratives from the Museum at Stirling, IWM and other sources for the A & SH's WW2 & KW. They departed 25 Aug 50 from Hong Kong landing 28 Aug 50 at Pusan with the Middlesex lads as the 27th Inf Bde. They went off with very little, no time to prepare, and so on.

Love to hear your accounts and see pics if any.

Cheerio, Johnnie.

[unionjack]

someone was asking where to get insignia. You may be interested in the pic below

The insignia on this blouse were all obtained from Derek at:
www.badges.montyslocker.co.uk/
Great bloke, great service. The Commonwealth one is on a form of light blue denim type material.

The above blouse re-creates (I hope!) North Staffs circa '53. I have another view of a Commonwealth patch that I think is perhaps later:

[unionjack]

And a different view:

[ian0263]

Hi all, can I make a contribution:
Brit Uniforms is a knotty one, full of contradictions, so I'll try to iron out a few things:
BD was a mixture of 40, 46, 47 and 49 Patterns (37 would not be seen)
the Trousers were either 40, 46 or 49 (illustrations found in Osprey's Brit BD 1937 - 1961)
Shirts were either American, Canadian or Brit KF
Boots Ammo
37 Gaiters
Webbing was either 37 or 44 dependant upon where the unit came from originally (Far East or UK) - it was NEVER mixed.......
Tropical kit was the Aertex Shirt/Jacket/KF and JGs (either 45 or 49)
After about 1951, Brit Soldiers were issued with an OG Smock and Trousers, like M51s, but of a differing cut.
Cold Weather kit was initially the WW2 Kit illustrated earlier - for a full list see British Army Uniforms of WWII by Brian Davis.
US Kit was also used (M51 Parkas etc)
At the same time as the Smock and Trousers, Brit ECW kit changed to Parka with Seperate Hood, padded Trousers and special Arctic Boots.
Hope this helps
Ian

[ian0263]

Further to my last:
46 & 47 BD:

Examples of Brit Combat Kit:
www.kmike.com/oz/pending/ronbrit.htm
Commonwealth Troops, early Tropical Kit:
www.kmike.com/oz/pending/aust2.htm
A Modified Parka Middle - Hood, Top Pockets and bottom of Jacket removed:
cas.awm.gov.au/heraldry/REL33890
Hope these help,
If I dig up more, I'll post it......
Ian

[pbi]

this is one or two photos of my dad in Korea one is of the his units laundry

[pbi]

some more form my dads photo album ,

[ian0263]

Good pics there pbi - Seafires & Fireflies - it's a pity the photos weren't bigger, as the details would confirm a lot.
Ian

[pbi]

some more from my dad's album

[pbi]

sorry about the quality but they are v/small and i have blow them up

[Mk2 Vickers gunner]

Smashing !!! You've done a splendid job putting those pics up PBI, and I thank you Sir !

Cheers, Johnnie, 1 Mx MG Bn, 15 Scottish Div, WW2 Reenactors.

[arditi1917]

Hello,

Wondering if any units have formed here in the US or any more info has come out? I am in NC and would love help in getting a impression together.

[Mk2 Vickers gunner]

Greetings arditi1917. I am pretty jazzed about the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders & their history. They got creamed at least one time during Korea. Friendly artillery fire caused many casualties on at least another occasion. I have completed several different A&SH's impressions from different periods, so far 1812, Crimea & WW2. Would love to get a small Forgotten Wars (early war) 27th Commonwealth Inf Bde unit together.

John A. & the US guys are waaaaaay ahead of us on this.

Other British battalions in the 27 CW Inf Bde were:
1 Bn Royal Leichestershire
1 Bn Middlesex
1 Bn Argyll & Sutherland
1 Bn Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

The 27th became the 28th in 1951, was joined by the 29th (mostly British battalions) & the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade to create the 1st Commonwealth Division, had armor, arty, signal, the whole she-bang. One could portray any fighting impression that would have been in 27 Bde or the 1 CW Div. I would prefer guys to consider all being high privates, no officers or senior NCOs. Hell, they were the first casualties anyway.

Thinking ahead: Perhaps those who might take a shine to this impression could meet up at a timeline event one time a year. Mid Atlantic to lower NE area, I imagine. Of course it would have to be during the colder months.

Problem: Uniform - So far I have seen that there P-49 BD does not exist, especially in xxlg my size, and Mk4 helmets & P-44 webgear are also rare. Thought to get WPGs P-37s, send them up to the bloke in Canada for dyeing dark green (same shade the Canadians wore in WW2) and alter pockets, collars, etc. I really need some guidance on this prior to getting underway. Lets keep the thought going Mate !

Bye the bye: I have a 1942 Canadian Chevy 15cwt & a Vickers gas powered MG. A Brit unit could be organized around the weapon and transport. Just a thought.

Cheerio, Johnnie

[zipperheads9]

Hello as Canuck who has has the Canadian kit for alooong time ,and finally got a set of late war issue flashes ,I might add some light to the COLONIAL ATTACHMENTS in the Division the 25th Canian Infantry Brigade was the primary brigade for Korea and it's Flash would cover Canadian Vehicles on every UN mision till the late 1960's . We wore one Commenwealth Flash on theLeft Sleeeve and the Brigade flasg on the right . The trrops in korea for Canada wore 2 uniforms mainly with inter mixing of some US kit , The webbing was all 37 pattern till late and Some of the newer 1953 pattern webb made into the lines with re-enforcemnts All the Infantry Units would send at least 1 Battalion at a time to the theater .So the PPCLI, RCR,22ND ,QOR BW (CDN) and Amrour was the LDSh,RCD,FGH,8CH ,as well as late war entries like the Candian Gaurds .
I would love to put a set of kut together for the Korean era ,as I have done WW2 for awhile and Ww1 as long.
I have some Commenwealth photo's to post ,but if some one could tell me how to post them on this forum it would be apreciated.
may havea few other's we have a group here that does 1950;s RCAF as well as a few others that have said 1949 pattern uniforms as well as the "bush wear used for summer weather ,
A note on brtiitish kit anybody now wear to get a slouch cap from as i have seen a few of those worn there by the Brit's .
Also have an M4 A2 E8 at our unit museum as well a plthra of kotean era vehicles , We used the M4A3 E8 over in korea ,but it is the same tanl on the outsie and gun id identical 76mm
Thanks for letting me on the forum
Mark

[Mk2 Vickers gunner]

Glad to have you along mark, that was good info you relate.

Cheerio, Johnnie, 27th Commonwealth Bde, 1 A&SHs.