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| Collecting British WW2 airborne militaria |
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Uniforms |
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On this page you will find the Denison smock. On the next page you will find the oversmock, the stringvest and the parachutist trousers. The Denison smock is named after its designer Major Denison; it is officially known as the "smock, Denison, airborne troops". It was an improved version of the Gabardine Jump Jacket used during the Bruneval raid. The first pattern Denison smock 
This pattern, also known as the 1942 pattern, has greenish brown elasticated knitted cuffs.
It was made from heavy duty light green windproof material with a screen printed brush stroke-like camouflage pattern in brown and dark green.
It had a short zipper to close the neck, marked either N (for Newey), Dot, swift or lightning.
It had two internal pockets, four external pockets and a tailpiece stitched to the lower back
that could be fastened on the inside of the front using one of three rows of press studs. Two shoulder straps were secured by green plastic buttons.
The shoulder part and lower part of the smock consisted of two layers for added warmth. Two smal tabs and press studs were fitted
to the lower sides to secure the smock tightly around the legs during the descend.
Press studs were entirely made from brass, they were made by Newey and show a patent number (201430-22) at the back of the female part. This pattern did not have the two press studs at the back to hold the tail. Note the vast majority of this smock was made without a vertical seam running down the middle: the front and back were made from single panels. Wartime manufacturers: Wareings (N'ton) Ltd, Parkinson Ltd or Parkinson (Walsall) Ltd, A.Whyman Ltd, L.Silberston and Sons, P.Frankenstein and Sons Ltd, A.Raven and Co Ltd, S.L.and N.Feathers Ltd, C.W.S. Ltd. Wartime variations: Early first patterns have vent holes under the arms reinforced with brown bakelite rings. There are two main camouflage patterns: the early handpainted pattern and the later screen printed pattern. On some smocks both patterns can be observed. Postwar modifications: Does not apply. The second pattern Denison smock 
This pattern is also known as the 1944 pattern; however examples exist with a 1943 date. It has no knitted elasticated cuffs but buttoned cuffs, and it had a less generous "cut". The zipper was about 2 inches longer than the ones on first pattern smocks and 2 press studs were added to the back to hold the tail. For economy reasons, the front and back were made from 2 panels each. Otherwise it was identical to the first pattern.These were first used during operation Overlord. Wartime manufacturers: Wareings (N'ton) Ltd, John Gordon and Co, Parkinson Ltd or Parkinson (Walsall) Ltd, A.Whyman Ltd, L.Silberston and Sons, P.Frankenstein and Sons Ltd, A.Raven and Co Ltd. Wartime variations: Zippers were made from brass or zinc. Postwar modifications: The first modifications came with the 1946 pattern smock: the press studs had a green finish on the outside. On later modifications the knitted cuffs were reintroduced and the zipper was always full lenght. Postwar studs were made from nickeled metal, not brass. Note for the collector: postwar Belgian smocks are much like a British 1944 pattern smock: these used either a zipper that was about 25 centimetres longer (but not full lenght) or batchelor/revolving shank buttons to close the neck (3 or 5 buttons). Sleeve and shoulderstrap buttons were made from light brown material. Otherwise these smocks are identical to the second pattern smock. They even have brass Newey studs. |
