1937 webbing manual

Although there are many books written on the uniforms and webbing worn by the Australian Army during the Second World War, very little of these publications focus on the forces stationed in the Northern Territory.

This lack of focus may stem from a view that Australian uniforms and webbing equipment employed in the NT were rather simplistic and consisted of only a pair of shorts and a slouch hat. Despite this view, it would appear through the study of photographs and the examination of remains that the uniform and webbing equipment employed by the Australian Army in Northern Australia consisted of far more than these items alone and it is hoped that further contributions to this page will expand on this neglected area of study.

Although many of the uniforms and webbing equipment worn in the NT were employed in other theaters of operations where Australian forces were present, it is the intention of this page to detail the specific uniform and webbing combinations worn by the Australian Army, both AIF and CMF in the NT during the period Analysis of photographic sources will form the basis of this study. Infantry Soldier Private. The term webbing is given to the fabric straps and accoutrements used to carry a soldiers equipment and supplies.

Taken in , this picture shows Australian soldiers eating a meal underneath a plantation of mango trees. Hanging from the branch are two sets of webbing and does much to illustrate the webbing employed in the NT at this time as it would appear that the Australian Army relied heavily on British pattern webbing early in the war.

The belt buckle, bandolier pouches and the water bottle straps pictured above clearly identify the webbing equipment above to be from the pattern. The webbing would have been pale green in colour.

Sometimes you will here the word Unblancoed or blancoded. This is a compound that was used to rub on the webbing. The term Unblancoed means without blanco or untreated. I share a passion for collecting all things vintage and antique and love to share that passion with others. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Actually they were called Featured January 21, 0. January 21, 0 Vespa. I have just acquired a British web belt, P37, which, although dated , is "new", or at least unused.

However, it is quite green in colour, and does not resemble the colour of the Canadian webbing that I was accustomed to seeing back in the forties and fifties. We used a can of, I suppose Blanco, to clean our webbing equipment, and restore it to its khaki -coloured glory, but I have been unable to locate any of this stuff to re-colour my web belt. Any suggestions for getting some of the stuff I'm looking for?

Austro-Hungarian Empire. South America. United Kingdom. United States. Articles by Peter Laidler Haven't played with this one for some years now.

Click to enlarge the picture. Last edited by reneblacky; at PM. And here's what I believe to be the Australian made belt, but I stand to be corrected. Only one I've seen before and of this construction. The large pack certainly looks Australian. Two questions Are the buckles thick and do the weather flaps have brass eyelets?

The belt is more difficult. The serial number looks to be Australian, but Diggers did use many British-made belts early in the war. Britain and India both produced this economy pattern circa to As I have never actually seen a wartime Australian belt with intact markings, I'm not certain what style they would have produced. If they lacked looms capable of integral weaving, they may have well used this pattern as well.

Your belt certainly looks lighter in color, like Australian webbing, though it may have been blancoed. Additionally, I would expect the back buckles on the belt to be a bit thicker on an Australian belt. In short, I'm just not sure. Last Jump to page:. Brace yourselves! Comparison of Pattern Webbing Braces from across the Empire. In Equipment and Field gear. Bookmarks Bookmarks Digg del.