VERA World War II Living History Association/Re-enactment Home Guard Uniform 1941 Home Guard Equipment MkII Helmet Enfield P17 Rifle Home Guard Battledress Field Service Cap Home Guard Cape Home Guard Serge Wool Cape Wool Serge Cape Home Guard

Home Guard Private Circa 1941

Our Home Guard Private wears the standard 37 Pattern Battledress. Manufactured from woolen serge material in a khaki (Urdu word - meaning dust) colour. His headgear is an FS (field Service) Cap with regimental cap badge. Around his waist is a 1903 Pattern leather belt - to this our Private has added a belt loop hanger for his service jack-knife and a leather frog for his bayonet. Slung across his shoulder you can see his Mk VI Service Respirator bag with his Mk II Steel Helmet attached to it. Black ammunition (ammo) boots and leather anklets complete the uniform.

Our Home Guard is armed with his trusty US manufactured Enfield P17 Rifle - one of a batch of 800,000 .300, 5 - shot bolt action rifles that arrived in the UK after a deal was struck with the US government to provide arms and munitions for the war effort. The red band painted around the muzzle of this weapon denotes that the rifle takes .300 ammunition and not the normal british calibre of .303 inch. The issue of ammunition was often restricted and our private has keeping is '5 rounds' safe in one of his pockets. A bayonet for the P17 Rifle completes his weaponry.

Insignia shown are printed Home Guard shoulder titles and printed 'VE - 2' patches. This patch is a fictious unit - 2nd Platoon Victory in Europe that the Victory in Europe Reenactment Association have adopted for use at their displays. Unofficially our Home Guard wears a pocket watch on a fob chain hanging from his breat pockets - well he does need to know when his evening patrol will end!

Victory in Europe Reenactment Association The Home Guard A basic guide to uniforms and equipment - number 1

Home Guard Private Circa 1941 Our Home Guard Private wears the standard 37 Pattern Battledress. Manufactured from woolen serge material in a khaki (Urdu word - meaning dust) colour. His headgear is an FS (field Service) Cap with regimental cap badge. Around his waist is a 1903 Pattern leather belt - to this our Private has added a belt loop hanger for his service jack-knife and a leather frog for his bayonet. Slung across his shoulder you can see his Mk VI Service Respirator bag with his Mk II Steel Helmet attached to it. Black ammunition (ammo) boots and leather anklets complete the uniform. Our Home Guard is armed with his trusty US manufactured Enfield P17 Rifle - one of a batch of 800,000 .300, 5 - shot bolt action rifles that arrived in the UK after a deal was struck with the US government to provide arms and munitions for the war effort. The red band painted around the muzzle of this weapon denotes that the rifle takes .300 ammunition and not the normal british calibre of .303 inch. The issue of ammunition was often restricted and our private has keeping is '5 rounds' safe in one of his pockets. A bayonet for the P17 Rifle completes his weaponry. Insignia shown are printed Home Guard shoulder titles and printed 'VE - 2' patches. This patch is a fictious unit - 2nd Platoon Victory in Europe that the Victory in Europe Reenactment Association have adopted for use at their displays. Unofficially our Home Guard wears a pocket watch on a fob chain hanging from his breat pockets - well he does need to know when his evening patrol will end!

Home Guard Private Circa 1941 Our Home Guard Private returns to duty for an evening patrol wearing his Serge Wool Home Guard Cape and MkII Steel Helmet. The Home Guard Cape offered good protection from wind and cold and the occasional light shower, but was likely to become soaked after a heavy downpour.