Following on from the softie jacket we looked at a few weeks ago, tonight we turn to the matching trousers, which are again made of a reversible soft shell construction, with thick padding inside. They can be worn with either a green side outermost:
Or with the tan side showing:
In order to accommodate this reversible nature, the waist is secured with a pair of buttons, one facing outwards and one inwards, regardless of which way round the trousers are:
A full length zip runs up each leg to allow them to be easily taken our off, even with boots on:
Note also that the cuff is elasticated to help retain air inside the trousers and give the wearer another layer of insulation. A label is sewn into the garment with details of sizing, NSN number etc.:
These trousers are normally issued with a compression or ‘stuff’ sack, much like a sleeping bag which allows the air in them to be squeezed out and their size reduced right down for storage in a rucksack when not needed, sadly my example is missing this, but they are a fairly cheap and common thing to come across so I am sure one will turn up soon enough (I have already gotten lucky and found one for the jacket for £1!).
Softie jackets and trousers seem to be very popular with the troops, as one soldier explains:
Softie! All day, worth spending money on a good one, especially if you’re static for a decent while, packs smaller , keeps you drier , keeps you warmer, and you can use it as a pillow in its stuff sack if you are that way inclined.
The only criticism of the issue softie seems to be that it gets worn very quickly and even with its compression sack it is bulkier than the latest commercial designs. Many troops do buy Snugpak or North Face softies in preference to the issue examples, but equally many really like the standard army pattern.
This jacket is a simple single breasted garment, secured up the front by large green plastic buttons, hidden behind a fly:
The hiding of the buttons was presumably to protect them from snagging whilst the soldier was working. A pair of epaulettes was also provided, each fastened by a green plastic button (buttons missing on this example):
A pair of patch pockets are sewn to the skirts of the jacket, each cut with the flap on an angle:
Inside the jacket a draw string at the waist allows some adjustment so that it is not completely shapeless:
A third, interior, pocket is also provided:
This is where the manufacturer’s label is sewn:
From this we can see that this jacket dates to 1963 and is a size 5. Richard Emms Ltd seems to have been a clothing company in existence until 1991. I have found the following description of the factory in the period this jacket was manufactured:
These are commonly referred to as ‘duvet boots’ by troops and were issued for wear inside tents and shelters in extreme low temperatures as a form of slipper. They are made of green polyester with a padded lining, secured in with zig-zag quilting stitching:
The top edge of each bootee is secured with green tape:
Whilst stitched inside the top edge is a piece of elastic to help trap a pocket of air inside the bootee:
This pocket of air is warmed up by the wearer’s feet and acts as a very effective layer of insulation and helps keep the feet warm.
These seem to be dated 1990, but the stamp is so distorted that it is hard to be certain.
I have struggled to find much more information on these bootees, and I cannot say when they entered service, how effective they were nor even if they are still in service. If anyone can shed further light on them, please comment below.
The design has the same wide palm as the later design, but does not incorporate the non-slip bumps so grip would be necessarily poorer:
The same separate thumb is featured in this design, as is the optional index finger section to allow a rifle to be fired:
A piece of elastic sewn into the mitten helps draw it in at the wrist:
Unusually the liner of these kittens are manufactured in blue faux-fur pile, rather than the expected green or brown:
A label is sewn inside each mitten indicating the mark number, size, manufacturer and contract number:
Whilst this design is clearly not as advanced as the MK 3, they remain a serviceable and war pair of mittens that would have worked well in extreme low temperatures and I am now intrigued to find a MK 1 to complete the evolution of this garment…
The design is identical to its successor, but in a light shade of tan rather than jungle green. The cape is essentially a rectangular ground sheet, with a triangular portion and a collar attached that allows it to be worn as a rudimentary waterproof:
Here a soldier can be seen modelling the groundsheet cape:
Each seam is secured with a strip of tape on the inside to improve its water repellent properties:
Flat plastic buttons allow the cape to be secured up the front:
Whilst a tab at the collar allows this to be drawn in for better weather protection:
In reality this fastening was pretty useless and water easily got down the neck of the wearer. The design was also criticised as even a small amount of exertion ensured the inside was as wet as the outside due to sweat. The design also directed water down to the back of the soldier’s legs where it quickly soaked through his trousers! Nor was the cape much good in its role as a groundsheet, a tent proving difficult to construct from the capes.
The original owner’s name is written on this loop, the name being repeated inside the cape as well:
An oval maker’s stamp is visible on the inside of the cape but is unfortunately too indistinct to make out any details:
In service these capes were folded up and carried under the flap of the small pack:
This is not an easy process to do neatly, but there is an 
The material of the puttee was folded to a point and the woven tape sewn on:
The opposite end was merely doubled back on itself and sewn together to prevent the fabric from fraying and coming undone:
When not being worn, it was typical for the puttees to be rolled up, with the tape wrapped around:
Short puttees had been reintroduced in 1950 and the official list of changes recorded:
Puttees seem to have been phased out in the mid-1980s, not always to the pleasure of troops some of whom were very fond of the short puttee:
The neck is ‘V’ shaped and bound with white tape:
There would originally have been a label sewn into the neck but this has been removed, possibly it was scratching the wearer’s neck and he felt it would be better taken out.
The letter ‘M’ equates to 1944 so the vest can be dated to that year. The design of the vest includes a cut away at the seam on each side, presumably to help make it easier to put on and remove the garment and to improve its comfort:
As well as an item of underwear, vests were also used for PT: