Equipment of the 15th (Scottish)

The standard equipment of the WWII Scottish Infantryman was the British 1937 pattern web gear. The infantry set consisted of a web belt, two shoulder cross straps, two basic ammunition pouches, water bottle and carrier, entrenching tool and cover, and the bayonet and frog. Scottish Infantry of WWII also carried the small pack on the back, which had two "L" straps which buckled into the tops of the ammo pouches. Sets of this pattern gear are available, and most pieces can be located with a little searching.

Ammunition was carried in the two basic ammunition pouches, which were either Mk.II or Mk.III in designation. One of the two pouches would carry two Bren magazines for the section's Bren gun. In the other, a soldier would carry bandoliers of ammunition for his Enfield rifle, and possibly a Mills Bomb grenade. In the haversack, a soldier's personal items were carried. This included rations, eating utensils and mess tins, shaving toiletries, a ground sheet or rain cape, a sewing repair kit, and whatever else the soldier decided to carry along. The issue tea mug was often carried strapped to the rear of the small pack. A camouflague face veil was another issued item, and many soldiers used it as a neck scarf.

Soldiers in Northwest Europe were issued with a lightweight respirator in the event of a gas attack. These were carried in a light green bag, commonly slung over the shoulder. Troops also carried large General Service shovels and picks, which proved more effective for "digging in" than the standard entrenching tool.

It was common for the troops to color their web gear with a substance known as Blanco. Blanco was a powder, sometimes issued in cake form, which was used to coat the webbing to renovate it, or to change it to an acceptable color. Khaki webbing stood out amongst the terrain of Northwest Europe. Troops in the 15th (Scottish) would Blanco their gear if possible. Webbing could be seen colored in shade 97 (light green), or in shade 3 (dark green) which was the preferred color.

The Mk.II steel helmet was worn by the soldiers of the 15th (Scottish) This was very similar in appearance to the WWI British and American "Doughboy" helmet. These were standard issue helmet shells which were fitted with sized interior liners. It became common pratice late in the war for the soldiers to cover their helmet with a camouflaguing net. Strips of dyed burlap, called scrim, would be woven and tied to the helmet nets to disrupt the outline of the helmet and conceal the wearer. It was also common to see first aid bandages tucked under the helmet net. Late in the war, a few soldiers were issued with the Mk.III "Tortoise shell" helmets, which first appeared on soldiers of the 21st Army Group in time for the D-Day landings.

Equipment, blancoed with No.3 dark green blanco, as worn. Also note the light respirator bag, just below the haversack, and the Mk.II steel helmet with netting and scrim for camouflague.

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