Korean war clothing
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Topic: Korean war clothing
Posted By: Moondog55
Subject: Korean war clothing
Date Posted: January 06 2015 at 7:11pm
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Hi and G'Day I am trying to find information on the pajama style woollen long johns that were part of the winter uniform during the last part of the Korean actions I have only ever seen one pair and that was at the War Museum in Canberra Australia. None of the people I have ever know who were in Korea had been issued thses or knew anything about them, I was told that the Aussies got issued extra American gear when they started to freeze to death in the foxholes [ personal communication from an old and angry veteran] and that they stole as much extra clothing as the could up to and including cutting up blankets for poncho style pull-overs. My recollection is of a loosely woven or knitted garment that buttoned to the braces buttons of the old serge BD pants and was then worn over the issue longjohns Any information on these would be appreciated I just bought a pair of 1950s vintage BD [ my issue ons sadly nolong fit around my enlarged waist but I was only 17 so I think that's fair enough] and I am thinking of taking them to Canada for a winters camp out and want to make my own woollen or wool blend liners I thank you all in advance for sharing your knowledge |
Replies:
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: January 07 2015 at 11:05am
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I think you'll struggle to get any long johns in wool these days most of them seem to be synthetic material. Try ebay there may be someone selling winter gear on there who has or can get hold of the woolies. ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 07 2015 at 2:32pm
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Not quite what you're asking for but take a look at the "Bear suit" from US ECWS system. I have the ECWS system gen 1 kit & I've camped out in snow in it very comfortably. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Cold_Weather_Clothing_System" rel="nofollow - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Cold_Weather_Clothing_System ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 07 2015 at 4:56pm
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I had some K/W vintage pant liners. used them for hunting on extreme cold days. But..the gang put my stuff out in the garage this fall, during renovations @ the cabin. Guess where the mice decided was a good place to reside? All I got from that was a" oops,sorry bout that"  Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: January 07 2015 at 5:38pm
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Hoadie, how does one hunt with pant liners? Do you suffocate the animal with them or do you just pull down the flap and show them the full moon and drop them that way?? Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk....those pesky little critters, I hate them! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 07 2015 at 6:56pm
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I do the "full moon" approach.. These liners buttoned into the field combat drawers. Damn good set od warmers (where needed) I'd say. open where one wud need to make water, too. Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Jon287
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 2:21am
Just buy a Snuggie. http://www.ebay.com/itm/he!!o-Kitty-Snuggie-Blanket-/231445002047?pt=US_Blankets_and_Throws&hash=item35e332773f" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.com/itm/he!!o-Kitty-Snuggie-Blanket-/231445002047?pt=US_Blankets_and_Throws&hash=item35e332773f ------------- Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their planet!! |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 5:48am
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I still wear the wool long johns. I love my wool. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 8:17am
------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
paddyofurniture wrote:Posted By: Jon287
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 8:50am
I'll stick with my Underoos! http://www.ebay.com/itm/NWT-Underoos-DC-Comics-Superman-Underwear-Brief-Set-Adult-Mens-S-M-L-XL-/381082827604?pt=US_CSA_MC_Sleepwear_Robes&var=&h" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.com/itm/NWT-Underoos-DC-Comics-Superman-Underwear-Brief-Set-Adult-Mens-S-M-L-XL-/381082827604?pt=US_CSA_MC_Sleepwear_Robes&var=&h ------------- Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their planet!! |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 9:02am
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Thanks! I will order a set for the son in law. The look on his face when he opens the box, priceless! ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Moondog55
Date Posted: January 19 2015 at 11:19pm
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Hey fellers Thanx for the replies Let me clarify During the Korean conflict Commonwealth troops were [ if they were lucky] early on issued a woollen liner for the standard issue BD trousers. I've seen and I'm familiar with the older style liners that look like a wooly pully and the later "Chinese Fighting Suit" liner I have however only seen one example, at the War Museum in Canberra Australia. The system was according to the blurb Wool long johns then pajamas style wool long johns then the BD trousers then the windproof smock style [ ie pull-ups] trousers [ to keep the mud/blood/faeces and brains off the wool so it didn't need to be washed after a battle ( Verbatim from the blurb) The descriptions at Canberra are honest. What I wanted to know is if these were used with suspenders of their own or used the trouser suspender buttons and also how baggy were they and what woollen material they were sewed from I know from a look at the display that they were sewn not knitted CWM are not able to help with this inquiry as they have has staff levels reduced to the bone and the old display has been removed to make way for the new Vietnam displays |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 20 2015 at 5:18am
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I may have a bit on info on that, at least the pull up over trousers. Back in the mid 70's in England I bought a pair of MilSurp overtrousers for cold/wet weather use on a motorcycle. They sound like those you describe. They were baggy, about the same as U.S. issue BDU pants. They had an elastic waist, with no button or suspender attachments. The ankles were equipped with (IIRC) 2 straps to allow them to be secured at the ankles. Color was OD, no camo or Khaki. Material was some kind of waterproof synthetic like nylon. I don't remember any pockets at all, not even slit openings you had to go in through the waistband to access regular pants worn under them. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Moondog55
Date Posted: May 18 2015 at 10:34pm
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Thanx Shamu I've been doing as much reading as I can but I still haven't found any new information. Those English waterproofs do sound like the same design tho except that the version I saw at the museum were in cotton. Many of those veterans have passed on now so it is becoming harder to get any first hand information |
Posted By: martini1215
Date Posted: February 08 2024 at 12:34pm
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Hi, I dont know if you found the information you looked for, I realise its an older post, but I will ask this gentleman. Its my dad he was 17 when he left England for Korea and awaited his 18th birthday in Hong Kong whereupon he was deemed old enough to go on active service. https://postimg.cc/DSKgwD3n" rel="nofollow"> https://postimg.cc/PCzMp4dZ" rel="nofollow"> https://postimg.cc/MXN5hHsc" rel="nofollow"> He is now 91 but has a sound memory and loves to talk about Korea.
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Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 08 2024 at 1:02pm
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Ask him about Sojo, Korean rat gut moonshine Kimchi, spiced vegetables with fish, summer and winter blend. Hurried in the ground for six months to age Salted dried squid on a stick The ditch by the side of the road for everyone bath room Cold as anti he!! Hard to keep warn Ox's with huge horns plowing the rice fields. The smell of natural fertilizer everywhere ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: martini1215
Date Posted: February 10 2024 at 7:03am
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Talking to dad now sat here with him. He laughed and said how much trouble they went to digging latrine pits big enough for the gun line when you moved position. Then at nightime you hear a noise and it was the gooks bailing the pits out to spread on the paddy fields. He also looked a bit thoughtful and said english crap must be good stuff for the gooks to risk having a mills bomb rolled down the hill at them. Apparently the cure for any strange night time noises.
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Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: February 10 2024 at 7:20am
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I couldn`t imagine wearing anything woolen next to my tenders. though it would be warm. The drk green wool combat sweater I was issued chafed my neck something fierce.
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Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 10 2024 at 7:34am
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I have a British Army a sweater that I trade for in the late 70's. My youngest son now owns it. He took it to Poland and wore it under his uniform jacket. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: February 10 2024 at 3:59pm
| I actually like the feel of wool on skin as I have several heavy wool sweaters, shirts, pants and long johns. I'm my opinion, no synthetic material can beat wool for its warmth, although it is a heavy fabric. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 10 2024 at 6:54pm
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I have/had an ECWS system. Polypro Long-johns, Bear Suit, goretex outer layer. I've yet to find anything better. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 4:53am
| Years ago for my WWII camp display I had a WWII C<- set of what we Canadians called "long johns". They were one piece woolen underwear with a trap door for bowel movements. They were made by the famous Canadian manufacturer Stanfield's who have been making underwear for Canadians since 1856. It's almost a cert that Canadians sent to Korea were issued these warm albeit scratchy underwear. |
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 4:58am
Wool saved my life once. I was out duck hunting and fell in the river when sucking mud held one foot as I was jumping into my johnboat. I was completely submerged and soaked to the skin with the icy water, an hour away from the truck. No problem, I wrung as much water out of my wool sweater and wool pants as I could and carried on. Wool keeps you warm even when it's wet so I never go hunting without at least a wool sweater.
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Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 1:01pm
| All my wool under garments are Stanfields. Wool jacket, pants, sweaters, etc are 30 year old Filson. Caution! Filson is really expensive and in my mind, not the quality it once was. Same as Tilley hats. Again, in my opinion, not the same weight of cotton and brass fixtures are now black painted aluminum. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 2:59pm
I can attest to yer statement bout TILLEY hats. They are no longer the quality, wieght & "finish" is NOTHING like my previous one. Add to that: THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA NOW!! (Rotten commies)  ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 3:10pm
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I am old school, (Rotten commies) are the Red Chinnese! ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 3:18pm
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I have field pants inserts that are nylon that button in to field pants. I also have a nylon insert that goes in to the field jacket and the parka. Both of these in sets are quilted nylon and look like Red Chinese cotton winter outer jackets. Before I went in the Army I had field pant liners that where like white thick rug like material. That was about sixty years ago and do not remember where the originated from. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 3:29pm
You`ll be hard pressed to find anything of quality made in Canada, be it clothing or what have you. Everything is junk crap made in China. It`s not their fault, they`re more than capable of making quality goods. It`s the companies farming out the work to them. Cut corners, minimal quality to meet minimal standards to maximize profit. And its probably like that every where on the is planet.
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 3:39pm
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The "ECWS" has never let me down. Even camping in a tent in February in the Pa Mountains on our annual "Frozen Nutz" shoots. Its basically 3 layers. Polypro shirt & long pants, worn next to the skin, wicks sweat away "Bear Suit" jacket & "farmer John" insulating layer, named for the fake brown fur. Also gloves & socks. Parka, hood & over-trousers wind/waterproofing. Mickey Mouse Boots, big klunky-looking things but they beat any & everything else I've tried. There's also the 3 layer sleep system, bags. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 3:47pm
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I used to wear Mickey Mouse Boots when I hunted up North. Now the hang out in that garage. Think my youngest son used to wear them twenty years ago when he went bear hunting in Maine. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 11 2024 at 8:26pm
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i know so little of the korean war in com=parison to every other war im near ashamed , i have a bag i use regularly from that era , i bought it surplus in the late 50s for my camping kit , its been my "bag" ever since , its in my car right now - i carry all sorts of stuff in it when i go to gun shows and such , hope you find what your lookin for , but these days in all the 'surplus stores' around here we are seeing cold war maybe but mostly the sand box stuff
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Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: February 15 2024 at 4:14am
Canada had a good ECWS sleeping bag system which I used during Winter warfare training which was truly excellent. It worked on layering like your clothing to be adjustable for the temperature. There was a fleece blanket that buttoned into the inner down bag which slid into the outer down bag which slid into a Gore-Tex 'bivvy' bag. All that was on top of a self-inflating air mattress. You also wore a quilted head and shoulder cover so you could keep your head out of the bag and still be warm. Anyone who has camped in cold weather knows the moisture in your breath will get your sleeping bag damp which causes a substantial loss of warmth.
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 15 2024 at 12:11pm
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Sounds similar if not the same. Is Canada part of NATO? that would make sense.  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: February 15 2024 at 6:08pm
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I still have my sleeping kit extreme cold weather, all of it. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 5:16am
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I have an old C.F. cold weather bag.(down filled) The inner liner disintegrated years ago, but I found a similar liner @ a surplus store that ties in. Works great...but this liner is getting a little long in the tooth.(& it's a pain to remove & re-install for cleaning). I'll probobly never find another liner for it. ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 2:45pm
| "Is Canada part of NATO?" Good question. Our name is there but our political/ financial commitment is not... |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 3:07pm
| Seems to be a common problem with more than one member… |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 3:07pm
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Canada shall always part of me, this old Rebel man. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 3:40pm
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I always assumed I'd have some kind of "inbred genetic pre-disposition" to liking Canada, & couldn't wait to go there. I'm afraid I was mistaken. Maybe its where in Canada I was ,but I didn't find the expectation valid. ("Monreal" & Niagra)? Luckily "Jer Sweed parlee Franchaise" ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: February 16 2024 at 3:49pm
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Ya not great places to visit regardless what tourism Canada tells you. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 17 2024 at 2:58pm
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WAIT A MINUTE!! I"M in Niagara..At least I don't shake (quakes), have uncontrolled fires, not given to alot of tornadoes, the last hurricane come through here was 1953 (Hazel), & we don't have water or hydro- electric trouble. All in all- considering the alternatives, it aint so bad, SHILO  ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: 450 Fuller
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 8:55am
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In the late 1960s-early 1970s I was a poor LT with the 10th and 7th Special Forces Groups. In Mass. and Germany we were issued woolen 1951 trousers along with cargo pocket OD para-style baggy over-trousers with braces/suspenders. With long handled long johns, they kept out the cold. Especially field jackets/ with wooly-pulley sweaters and additives". Later as a Captain, I visited the "Clothing Sales Specials at the issue points at Ft. Bragg. These same woolen trousers and "devils in baggy para-pants" could be had for $1-$1.50 a set. I got a dozen and was better off on hunting trips. Wool, even damp-will keep one warm, and the quality was superb. Try buying a set of wool LL Bean pants today in your size. Have your card or wallet ready. For those who have heard of Chosin Reservoir in Korea, the 1st Marine Division was on the SouthWest side, the Army units on the East side. Temperatures dipped to -30 degrees with wind added. Weapons froze, except for M-1s, 1911s, and Enfields carried by the British Marines. The BARs also functioned with the Browning machine guns. The 30 carbine was trouble due to weather and sub-standard ballistics. ------------- Only the dead have seen the end of war-Plato Socialism-The equal sharing of misery-Churchill MACVSOG-5th Special Forces Gp |