Reconstruction of the uniform and
fighting order(webbing) of 42 Cdo. at Suez

© 2002 Angus Jones. All rights reserved.

The basic uniform consisted of a khaki shirt, olive green denim trousers, short khaki puttees, SV boots(rubber commando soles) not shown ,denison smock, face veil, not shown, and green beret with brass cap badge. The fighting order (webbing) was WW2 pattern. The fighting order consisted of belt, cross straps, entrenching tool (in case), pouches, water bottle in carrier, naval issue blade bayonet (to suit No.4 rifle) in bayonet frog, small pack with "L" straps and a waterproof ground sheet, not shown, protruding from the under the flap of the pack. A first field dressing, would be in the front pocket of the trousers, and a naval issue clasp knife, with marlin spike, in the side pocket. In the army the webbing would be blancoed, in the Royal Marines, it would be blackened with boot polish, then brushed to a shine (like cleaning shoes). On active service the brass parts would not be cleaned. This was a bonus. You didn't have to poke matchsticks into the eyelet holes on the belt etc. All items of uniform and equipment were marked with your name. Every sailor and marine was issued with a name stamp made of wood. The indidual wooden letters were slid onto a block, see below.

© 2002 Angus Jones. All rights reserved.

The small pack would contain a holdall, in which would be shaving gear, toothbrush, knife, fork and spoon etc. Another smaller holdall, called a housewife, contained needles, thread, darning wool to repair socks, spare buttons etc. Other contents of the small pack would be mess tins, black shoe cleaning gear, towel, string, spare leather boot laces, spare flannelette for cleaning weapons, toilet paper, box of matches for lighting solid fuel cookers, but could be used for lighting cigarettes, spare socks and a piece of string. I never found a use for the piece of string. Also included would be a 24 hour ration pack, complete with solid fuel cooker. The ration packs were of 4 types, marked A, B, C and D. Each type had a different menu for the day. The food inside was of very high quality, no rubbish, everything could be eaten,and was very tasty. While on active service, we received 1 tin of 50 cigarettes per week. The weekly pay was 7 pounds 7 shillings for a regular marine, and 28 shillings for a national service marine. A packet of 20 cigarettes in the UK at that time probably cost 4 shillings, a pint of scrumpy cider 1 shilling, and a pint of beer considerably more.