Carrier Driver's Uniform

[RichCam]

Calling on all Carrier Driver's:

With the summer approaching and the various events that are going to be occurring, (in Canada celebrating our 150th) what should a properly attired Universal Carrier driver wear? (Obviously a BDU for the time of year and location)

I am interested in how much of the P37 webbing would be worn, what would be in pockets and pouches and how would a driver be armed? (Realizing that there isn't much room between the steering wheel and the division wall)

Pictures and/or comments would be helpful!

Regards, Richard

[Jordan Baker]

I normally will just wear battle dress. Sometimes webbing but usually it just gets in the way.

This picture is of me last year while on a film shoot. The webbing layout worked well for getting in and out but I did find the holster got in the way a few times.

[Ed Storey]

You don't have to wear much when driving a Universal Carrier, the key to wearing BD is that it has to fit properly and there is a certain way that when worn correctly it looks right. His is a LAC image that shows a typical carrier crew in NW Europe and an image that shows the prescribed way in which to properly wear BD. Take note of how the BD is 'bloused'.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Jordan, I think you have just been called out...your BD blouse and trousers are definitely not velanized correctly!!

[Jordan Baker]

Ha I'm not worried since I don't even know what that word means. Lol

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Ha I'm not worried since I don't even know what that word means. Lol

...spellchecker doesn't either...

[Jon Skagfeld]

...nor does Google.

[RichardT10829]

BD, Denims, KD,

What ever the troops wore, remember they were all soldiers before they were drivers.

I have seen numerous images of tank suits being worn (blagged no doubt)

[Ed Storey]

The intent was not to call anyone out but an attempt (obviously a feeble one on my part) to provide an answer with some photographs. Yes, tank suits were very popular as well.

[Jordan Baker]

No worries. I don't feel like I was called out on anything. Heck I can't even find references to that word. Lol

What were your pictures from Ed? I've never seen those two before of the soldiers.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

The intent was not to call anyone out but an attempt (obviously a feeble one on my part) to provide an answer with some photographs. Yes, tank suits were very popular as well.

Ed, I was calling him out. Somebody had to do it...

[Grant Bowker]

What is velanizing, how does it apply to battledress, is it a current process, etc.?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

What is velanizing, how does it apply to battledress, is it a current process, etc.?

It was a proofing process, this phrase is within the following trials report on page 30;

Battledress blouse, velanized, was found satisfactory. The velanizing served to shed all snow met with on this exercise.
88 Battledress trousers, velanized, were found satisfactory.

http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/dcass/82784.pdf

[Marc van Aalderen]

Jordan,

Please do blanco your webbing.

Cheers,

[RichardT10829]

then go and crawl through mud, climb all over the carrier, get oily and grubby.

then it will look legit

interesting about carrier drivers, I had an image of my grandfather in his KD kit with what looked like a dinner stain on his jacket just above his belly.... always thought it was a touch shabby on his part

fast forward to 2014..... got out of my carrier wearing my KD jacket looked down... same blob same place

it was a dab of grease from the steering gear which had dropped onto the bottom of the steering wheel after a very very hot day, then transferred onto my kit.

needless to say I left the mark where it was, and I tipped my hat to grandfather.

carrier crews are a scruffy lot.

[Ed Storey]

Yes, whether in the infantry or a vehicle crewman uniforms tend to get dirty from use, but that should not be an excuse to dress poorly when at an event. Remember dress and deportment are key elements of soldiering and that there was a distinct difference between work and everyday clothing and perhaps more importantly, where/when they were worn.

[Jordan Baker]

Well aware of blanco and how much patina one can gain from being on and in a vehicle.

The above photo and this one where from a film shoot I did last year. I just did what the makeup and costume people wanted.

[RichardT10829]

Nice images Stuart. Bottom left sums it up for me, all be it staged.

Too many people (in my most humble opinion) cruise about with their kit in parade format, when you look at actual images taken during fighting, the lads didn't have time to shine buttons and have their kit in top order.......in short they were a mess, and rightly so ! I recall being at an event in Holland, two well known re enactors were with us and were (again in my opinion) spot on with their dress, they actually looked like they had been in the field longer than two hours.

my thoughts were echoed by a veteran who walked up to us and said "Its nice to finally see someone who grasps what we looked like during active service"

it was all the motivation I needed to never wash again


Richie.

[RichCam]

Guys, thanks again for the photos and comments. I am going to be with the Huntsville UC in our July 1st Canada Day Parade and I would like it to look realistic. I think I will take it out for a spin beforehand just to get some dust on it as well! Will post some pictures for further commentary. Cheers, Richard.

[Michael R.]

A side note:
in the footage, at 8:43 through 8:55 ... the universal carrier. Is that "CUCHESS" or "COCHESS" ... mounting both a 1919A4 as well as an M2HB ... on the tow hitch equipped UC T16. The unsung T16 in Canadian service in NWE, 1944-1945.