British Leggings? Help Please

**douglas2496** · 03-09-2013, 06:50 PM

Bought these canvas leggings at a car boot sale when I was a boy. They are two seperate leggings which are not joined, and they seem to be waterproofed. There are no markings. I assumed then, as now, that they are old, military, and British. Can anyone tell me any more about them? How old are they? Do they have a specialist use? Does the bag belong with them? Why is the bag green rather than khaki?

Many thanks, Douglas

**Mark K** · 03-09-2013, 07:14 PM

Good morning Douglas I just started to do a little research on these and IMO they are War time examples I have found a pair and they are listed as mint pair of British Army waterproof leggings complete with all straps and buckles. They are well stamped and dated 1941, size 2. I do believe they are the same as the ones you have .
Here are a few images for comparison gives you a time line to start your research.

Edit.. The ones I have posted appear to have button holes instead of snaps I should have looked a little closer.

Regards Mark K

**douglas2496** · 03-09-2013, 08:07 PM

Thats very helpful, thanks very much. Whilst not identical these are very similar. I will try to find out more.

**hangarman** · 03-09-2013, 09:19 PM

I have also seen them marked up to the AFS (Auxilliary Fire Service)

Hangarman

**Mark K** · 03-10-2013, 02:58 PM

Douglas I spent a little time searching the net last night and came up with a few more details concerning the Rubberized leggings a few of the sites I visited were referring to them as motorcycle or Dispatch Riders leggings .
Unfortunately I can not back this up with any period photos or the likes of any decent information that one can sink his teeth into so at this point it is still just a theory.

Regards Mark K

**douglas2496** · 03-10-2013, 03:06 PM

Ok, thanks a lot for that. I greatly appreciate your efforts. Having had these for more than twenty years, I expected them to be hard to identify. I have a collection of reference books on British uniform and these dont feature in any of them, nor have a been able to find anything online. However with your help I have been able to establish that they are certainly British and probably WW2 period, which is great. I will certainly try to follow up the dispatch rider idea.

Looking at the picture you sent again it looks as though the ones shown here are one piece leggings joined in the middle, and its perhaps worth emphasizing that my leggings are two seperate pieces, though the style and construction is remarkably similar to the ones you have shown.