{"product_id":"original-british-wwii-parachute-regiment-airborne-troops-major-s-2nd-pattern-denison-smock-with-jump-wings-jack-knife-on-rope-dated-1945","title":"Original British WWII Parachute Regiment Airborne Troops Major’s 2nd Pattern Denison Smock with Jump Wings \u0026 Jack Knife on Rope - Dated 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a service-worn example of a genuine 2nd Pattern Denison Smock, offered in heavily worn, field-used condition. It is in the original configuration with a functional half front zipper (most were converted to full zip fronts) making this a rare find. It features brass buttons and a \"monkey tail\", but one of the buttons is missing on the front 6-pack. It is faintly broad arrow stamped and retains a complete tag, which reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSMOCKS - DENISON\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(AIRBORNE TROOPS)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIZE 2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHEIGHT 5'3\" to 5'5\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBREAST 37\" to 39\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJOHN GORDON \u0026amp; CO.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1945\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBROAD ARROW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example has a lovely set of Jump wings stitched onto the right sleeve, with Major rank insignia on each shoulder board. Also of note is the Horseman’s “multi-tool” which is attached via a rope to the left shoulder, with the knife sitting in the left breast pocket. The knife is marked \u003cstrong\u003eHORSE BRAND\u003c\/strong\u003e, and has some heavy oxidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lovely heavily service-worn example and comes ready for display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Denison Smock:\u003cbr\u003eThe Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth airborne units, to wear over their Battle Dress uniform during the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smock was initially worn over the paratrooper's webbing equipment, but under his parachute pack and harness, as its primary purpose was to prevent the wearer's equipment from snagging while emplaned or during a jump. It was equally useful for camouflage and as a windproof garment that provided a method of carrying ammunition or equipment. Contemporary photographs show that airborne troops preferred to wear the smocks under their webbing once they had landed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1st pattern smock was made from loose-fitting, yellowish-sand colored, heavyweight twill material, allegedly hand-painted with broad, mop like brushes using non-colorfast dyes in broad pea green and dark brown stripes, or \"brush-strokes\". With use the base color faded to a sandy buff, and the overlaid shades gained a blended appearance. The colors of the 1st pattern smock were thought to best suit the wearer to the North African and Italian theatres. It had a half length zip fastener made of steel, knitted woollen cuffs, four external pockets that secured with brass snaps (two on the chest and two below the waist), two internal pockets on the chest, and epaulettes that secured with plastic battle dress buttons. The inside of the collar was lined with soft khaki flannel (or in senior officer's smocks, Angora wool). A “beaver tail” fastened beneath the crotch from the back to the front of the smock - which kept it from riding up during a parachute descent. When not used, the tail would hang down behind the wearer's knees, hence the nickname \"men with tails\", given by the Arabs in North Africa in 1942. The smock was styled as a very loose garment, since it would be worn over Battle Dress, but it could be adjusted to some extent with tightening tabs on both sides of the lower part of the smock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smock was most commonly associated with British and Commonwealth airborne units, and the Special Air Service Regiment, after D-Day, but its initial use was by members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), parachuted or landed into enemy territory between 1941 and 1944. In the early smocks the colours were meant to be impermanent and wash out, leaving the garment looking like a typical French artisan or labourer’s chemise, and thus, hopefully, aiding the wearer's Escape and Evasion chances. As the newly formed Airborne Forces expanded, so the need for smocks grew, meaning that they were by now screen printed for easier production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor use by Airborne troops, the Denison was worn over the battledress and under the webbing, with a sleeveless green denim oversmock being worn over the ensemble to prevent rigging lines snagging in the webbing and causing a 'chute malfunction. This sleeveless smock had a long external zip (often removed and used to make the half-zip Denisons full zip), a monkey tail that press studded to the outside front of the oversmock and two elasticated open pockets on the lower front which were to hold grenades for use whilst in the air or immediately upon landing. After a successful parachute landing fall, the oversmock was discarded.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42807015866437,"sku":"ONSV25LBM062","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25LBM062__01.jpg?v=1748624934","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-wwii-parachute-regiment-airborne-troops-major-s-2nd-pattern-denison-smock-with-jump-wings-jack-knife-on-rope-dated-1945","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}