Ex-Army MOD kilts

[bubba]

It's also noteworthy that the Civil War was responsible for "off the rack" clothing, as the US Army introduced "generic" sizes (I, II, III and IV) to issue to troops.

Cheers,

Todd

and all of it a bad fit.

[James]

Going back to WW1, the difference in height between the average officer and the average man was several inches, in the main due to nutrition. Too it was a sad fact that the average German and French soldier was fitter than his British counterpart due to their large peasant population, compared to the British more urban recruiting pool.

Too we must not forget the bantam units.

Out of interest reading the various posts, I had a look at some of my old pictures from the 50's: and apart from a very few senior officers and long service NCO's everyone was a lot slimmer than today's servicemen.

All suggesting that there has for whatever reason been an increase in the average man's size over the last fifty years.

So whilst agreeing with Hamish that much so called MOD stock being sold is imitation: I do not find the sizes questionable in respect of outdated military clothing. Too MOD kilt can stay in the stores a very long time: in the mid sixties I indented for some replacement stores for the Vickers MMG-what turned up was perfect, yet still in its original 1917 packaging-nigh on fifty years. So I'd not be surprised if in some long lost store, there are not Boer War uniforms just waiting to be issued.

Also throughout the sixties, uniforms were being made and held in store, in case of the need to reintroduce conscription: so again that might be a source even today.


James

[macwilkin]

So whilst agreeing with Hamish that much so called MOD stock being sold is imitation: I do not find the sizes questionable in respect of outdated military clothing. Too MOD kilt can stay in the stores a very long time: in the mid sixties I indented for some replacement stores for the Vickers MMG-what turned up was perfect, yet still in its original 1917 packaging-nigh on fifty years. So I'd not be surprised if in some long lost store, there are not Boer War uniforms just waiting to be issued.

A story is told of a stevedore unit in France during the First World War, mostly African-Americans, who opened a crate of uniforms and found original Civil War Federal Army issue fatigue blouses (sack coats) and trousers, in their original packages! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd