Denison Smock
 

Okay these are worn by the SLF that don't like to land in aircarft.

A friend is looking for a genuine WW2 one.

Anybody have any ideas or are their only replicas available ?

For some reason I seem to remember seeing them on Military Clothing | Military Kit | Army Surplus | Boots | Military Surplus | Police Kit | Security | Outdoor | Motorcycle Kit > Home

Actually, during WW2 it wasn't unknown for Denison's to be begged/borrowed/stole by aircrew as a means of camo if having to bail out.
Grp. Capt. Pickard of the famed Amiens Mosquito raid was a well known aircrew Denison smock wearer.

However, genuine WW2 Denisons are now VERY collectable and fetch lots of money. Not unheard of for to see nice examples go for £7-800+ on ebay, which is where you need to be looking for them these days. There are none left in any of the surplus dealers, and the odd one may turn up in a few specialist militaria dealers such as Blunderbuss or such like, but again they will be lots of money.

Also, does he want a 1st pattern or a 2nd pattern, or not bothered?

There are replica's made, for the re-enactment lot, but these are mostly very inaccurate. There was a firm doing some really good ones a while back but not any more and these now are even fetching silly money on ebay as well.:rolleyes:

Also, need to be careful not to pay lots of money for a post war one an shady militaria dealer is 'selling' as a WW2 version:*
Best place to try and find one, would be at one of the big militaria shows in the UK, such as Beltring in July or Stoneleigh in a few weeks time.

See here for details of the Stoneleigh Show on 1st Feb 09.

Milliatria 2009 | Europes premier military show and Militaria Fair for military collectors

Sadly Gp Capt Pickard DSO** DFC MiD never got a chance to try the effectiveness of his smock.

What a guy! Target for Tonight, Op Biting (Bruneval), Amiens prison, etc., etc.. Years ago I visited his grave in Amiens - he's buried alongside his Nav, Flt Lt Broadley DSO, DFC, DFM, and the French people make sure they're looked after properly.

Pickard can be seen wearing his for Op Jericho; there's a photo of him being helped with his Mae West by his navigator, Broadley. He probably took to wearing one during his time flying SOE, which is how he got his third DSO. I was by his grave on Wednesday!

'68 double liner smock
 

Sorry for thread drift, but I was clearing out a cupboard the other day and came across an old 1968 cammo jacket (the first type to be cammo rather than olive), it is in OK condition, and may be just right for re-enactors, or anything. It seems to be too good to throw out, as they are quite scarce. Does anyone have any sensible options or uses for it.
Also (and sorry for more thread drift) I found a para smock in as-new condition, completely unworn (early eighties issue colour), and with the tailors chalk marks still on it.

Both are for someone around 5'7 or 8 and 42 chest.

Good for you, MG. I'm sure visitors are appreciated. I can never forget this piece which Helen Charlesworth wrote in 1997. I know it's not about aviation but the emotion is no different:

The Visit (long awaited) to Guillemont Cemetery

Well, here we are, all lined up neat and tidy, ready for our visitors – if they come. We don't have many these days. Don't know why. We used to get quite a few, but they've died off now.

When it happened they kept us out in the field for a while. It wasn't safe to bring us in. They did finally get us here, cleaned us up and gave us a decent place to rest.

We are looked after well, they're always brightening the place up with plants and flowers – they are really for the benefit of the visitors - it keeps them happy.

Harry's niece came to visit a while back. She brought some crocuses, said they'd look nice in the spring. Cheered him up no end. Thought they'd forgotten all about him! "Course not!" I said. "They'll not forget us – will they?"

Turnpike's brother (forget his name now) used to come and visit. We'd been in the same battalion, the same trench... Anyway, he stopped coming. His health wasn't what it used to be.

Once thought I heard a fellow mention my name – he looked vaguely familiar around the eyes, but I couldn't place him. He slowed as he walked past and gave a look as if to say "Poor chap, never mind". Didn't see if he found who he was looking for. Shame, it would've been nice to have had a visitor.

Wyndham and Asquith, they get plenty of visitors – and don't know any of them! Rank and who you know counts for a lot. Hope I do get a visitor. A relative would be nice, 'course they'll be busy I suppose, with their families and things...

A soldier of the Great War
Known unto God

Thread has drifted but did get the info I was seeking :ok:

Thank you for sharing the info regarding the Mosquito raid and but most especially to exscribbler, must have been a draught in the room as I was finishing reading, as some water entered my eyes.

Are you looking to part with it? My old man was in 15 Para in '68 and ended up in Aden. When he got out just after he had all his kit knicked. :( Everytime I go home and the subject of the army comes up he always laments losing his Dennison smock. I keep trying to find one for him but haven't had any luck.

denison smock, Collectables, Toys Games, Uniform Clothing items at low prices on eBay.co.uk


One guy's wanting £300 for one! They must have been a good bit of kit!

That '68 jacket won't be a Denison from barnstormers description.

Your Dad would have had a '59 Pattern Denison. They can be found, if you know where to look, although, even these are now getting expensive. Ten-fifteen years ago, you could pick up '59 Patt Denison's for peanuts in surplus stores, but, they can easily go for a few hundred quid now.
There was a '59 Patt on that link posted earlier.

Thanks GeeRam
 

No, the 68 jacket is the "double liner", and is in the more pale DPM scheme.
Back in the eighties, they tended to be used as winter cammo, as they were very warm, and had paler more "winterised" cammo.
Sorry for any confusion.

What I liked about the smock was that, unlike other bits of Army kit, they were windproof.

coughs
 

http://www.sasskit.co.uk/pics/250/p11kitkarrysmock.jpg


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SASS
 

SASS gear always looked good, but then seemed very expensive.
I never liked the idea of buying anything that may just get ripped, and could be provided free anyway!
Also there were some very odd folks who would want a smock with about a thousand added pockets on them! (not that they used them, but just liked to tell you about them)

Original un-issued Denison smock for sale
 

If you want a giggle and proof of how much these things are worth thesedays, Silvermans have an un-issued one for sale at the moment (I pressume this is their 'archive' one they are flogging?).....

The price........£1,250 :eek:

1942 DATED DENISON SMOCK NEW

@barnstormer1968

You might consider your local regimental museum. They will always provide a good home to military kit.

The 1968 pattern DPM jacket was made to the same design as the previous Olive Green jacket. IIRC the double lining was supposed to reduce the effects of flash burns from tactical instant sunshine.

For details of your local museum see:

British army museums and records at Army Museums Ogilby Trust

EG

on here.
RARE WWII DENISON RENOVATED

around £300-£450.