British Airborne Forces Denison camo smock

[lee edwards]

theres a very intresting denison in the airborne museam at pegasus bridge in normandy. it belonged to one of the officers that took part in the attack if i remember. the label can be seen as its just under the back of the collar inside, the label says denison smock air ministry..... its in a weird material almost silk like with the white cordroy collar lineing and full length zip i did have some photo's of it but i cannot find them

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Lee, I know the type you mean. Rare and very desirable!

Cheers, Ade.

[Recon 3690]

Major Denison was the inventor of the camouflage pattern not the smock designer, he was a member of Oliver Messel's camouflage unit.

[Recon 3690]

There are numerous modifications to the Para Smock, most of them made by the individual or by the unit tailor: see my post in the "British Denison smocks" thread

[davejb]

I know the Denison smock your talking about at Pegasus Airborne Museum, i believe its made from a very fine linen material, but i think it wasnt fully adopted due to the lack of hard wearing capability, nontheless a very nice piece of kit

[Patgore]

Dave:

Sounds like some personal touch. Not a good idea to give a potential enemy something to strangle you with in CQB.

We always wore a face veil at the thrat rather than zip up completely.

PG

[davejb]

I quite agree, my pal who was in 3 para couldnt help me either, but he also suggested that the top zip might have been removed and replaced with a draw string although we couldnt fathom why, perhaps it was done by my dads cousin, who knows?