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| Collecting British WW2 airborne militaria |
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Uniforms |
Insignia |
Headgear |
Equipment |
Weapons |
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The maroon beret 
The maroon beret was introduced on 29 July 1942 (Army Council Instruction 1596). Before that date airborne personnel wore a variety of headdress from their original unit.
Major-General Frederic Browning decided that uniformity in headdress was needed and a number of prototype berets were designed. After a parade senior airborne men narrowed down the options to blue and maroon. Maroon eventually prevailed; it is said that Browning's wife, novelist Daphne du Maurier was the one that made this actual choice. The beret was made of wool, and had a very large "crown" allowing the flap to be pulled well over the right ear. The liner was made from black cotton, bearing the size, makers stamp and ordnance acceptance stamp. It had a sweatband made from doe skin (deer leather) that held a black drawstring to adjust the fit. To allow some ventilation side there were two blackened brass grommets covered with a rectangular piece of black leather on the right hand side. Most berets show a handsewn thread that fixed a hessian strip inside the liner. Wartime manufacturers: Kangol Wear Limited (Kangol is an abbreviation for knitted angora wool), Beret Industries Limited, British Beret Basque Ltd , Dorothea Mills Limited (Canada), A&L Gelfer Glasgow, Jalpotex Ltd, J.Compton Sons&Webb Ltd, Grand Mere Knitting Company Ltd (Canada). Wartime variations: In 1945 Kangol Wear Limited has produced berets with a khaki liner. Post-war modifications: The crown had a smaller size and also sweatbands were made from cloth or artificial leather. Berets made by Kangol have a pocket to hold the badge slider (the stitching shows at the front), also these show a different stamping. Note for the collector: berets showing an arched J.Compton Sons&Webb Ltd are fakes. The Polish beret 
The members of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade wore a Dove grey beret, it was worn in the Polish style. The beret was pulled towards the back of the head rather than the British style of over the right ear. Also to be noted , is that the Polish cap badge was centred on the forehead. Officers also wore rank insignia on the front.The 1st pattern examples of the Polish Airborne beret (1941 - 1943) were more of an ash grey shade, and production numbers ranged to approximately 3,000 items. This pattern was of a one piece construction. The 2nd pattern of the Polish Airborne beret were issued from 1943 -1947. These berets were manufactured by Gelfer of Glasgow and examples have been seen with 1946 production dates, confirming the fact of some early post war manufacture. This pattern was more of a Steel Grey colour, and was constructed as a three piece item. Production numbers for the 2nd pattern must range to about 10,000 items to cover the Brigades actual numbers when disbanded in May 1947. |
