Denison smock - Revision history

Admin1 at 18:47, 26 October 2025

2025-10-26T18:47:51Z

Admin1: /* History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock */

2025-10-26T18:45:39Z

History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock

Admin1 at 23:25, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T23:25:13Z

Admin1: /* History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock */

2025-08-30T23:17:39Z

History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock

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Admin1: /* History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock */

2023-09-11T01:56:02Z

History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock

Admin1: /* History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock */

2023-09-11T01:54:24Z

History of the British Airborne Camouflage Denison Smock

Admin1: /* Notes */

2020-03-25T03:07:44Z

Notes

Admin1 at 00:46, 1 September 2015

2015-09-01T00:46:24Z

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 The Paras were finally obliged to give up their beloved Denison smock in the late 1970s, when the first [[DPM]] parachutist smock was issued (circa 1977 or 1978).  These smocks resemble the ’59 pattern Denison in most respects, but are made of lighter weight cloth (the same cotton modal fabric as the 68 and 84 pattern GS clothing). They became standard issue to all members of the Regiment by 1980 or 1981.  Interestingly enough, during this transitional period, many members of the Parachute Regiment (as well as SAS Regiment) preferred to wear 1960 pattern olive green lightweight trousers with their DPM smock, vice the DPM camouflage GS trousers that were then available.
-The Denison smock has not been produced since the 1960s and is no longer worn by members of the British Armed Forces. The DPM parachutist smock, however, is still standard issue to members of the Parachute Regiment, and is also worn by other Army personnel as well (as a private purchase item).
+The Denison smock has not been produced since the 1960s and is no longer worn by members of the British Armed Forces. The [[DPM]] parachutist smock, however, would remain standard issue to members of the Parachute Regiment until the adoption of Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) in 2010, when production of MTP Denison production would begin.
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 The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." Although many historical sources suggest the Denison smock bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison (note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>, research conducted by the British Airborne Assault museum has largely disproven this claim.<ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>
-The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, hand-painted with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on these original Denisons was not roller-printed, but actually hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes, thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter (owing to fluctuations in dye batches and individual methods of creating the pattern). Indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself).
+The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, printed with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on the fabric of these original Denisons has been the subject of much discussion and some controversy over the years by serious historians, collectors, and academics. Although it does appear that the original camouflage design was not roller-printed, the suggestion that the fabric was hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes (thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter) is probably a simplification of the truth. It is accurate to say that there is no evidence of repitition to the Denison "brushstroke" design; indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself). Yet, there is also no evidence of splatter or dripping on Denison camouflage, a detail that would likely be present if, in fact, the fabrics were indeed "hand painted." <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref> The conclusion, therefore, is that the printing of the camouflage design probably included some aspect of mechanization, although precisely to what degree that mechanization occurred may be lost to history (or until some diligent research can dig up the wartime documentation).
-The Denison airborne smock was initially issued to members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a clandestine special warfare unit, but became standard issue to British Airborne Forces (including Glider Infantry and Glider Pilots). It also saw use with other units operating in the European Theater of Operation, including the Special Air Service (SAS), Army Commandos and the Royal Marines. Smocks were provided to Commonwealth airborne units such as the [[Canada|Canadian]] 1st Parachute Battalion, and to the airborne-trained European allied forces in exile ([[Netherlands|Dutch]], [[Belgium|Belgians]], [[France|French]], [[Poland|Polish]], et al).
+The Denison airborne smock was initially issued to members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a clandestine special warfare unit, but became standard issue to British Airborne Forces (including Glider Infantry and Glider Pilots). It also saw use with other units operating in the European Theater of Operation, including the Special Air Service (SAS), Army Commandos, and the Royal Marines. Smocks were provided to Commonwealth airborne units such as the [[Canada|Canadian]] 1st Parachute Battalion, and to the airborne-trained European allied forces in exile ([[Netherlands|Dutch]], [[Belgium|Belgians]], [[France|French]], [[Poland|Polish]], et al).
 The first series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock had a yellowish-sand coloured base, with broad pea green and dark brown stripes, or "[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]]". With subsequent washings or exposure to weather, the base and overlying colours faded and blended considerably. The colours of the 1st pattern smock were thought to best suit the wearer to the North African and Italian theatres, the first areas of operation into which British airborne personnel were deployed during the war. This smock had a steel half zipper running from the collar down the front, four external pockets that secured with brass snaps (two on the chest and two below the waist), two map or document pockets inside the chest, knitted wool cuffs, short adjustment tabs at either side of the bottom of the smock, and shoulder straps that secured with plastic battle dress buttons. The inside of the collar was lined with brown woolen material, and a flap fastened beneath the crotch from the back to the front of the smock with brass Newey snaps, which kept it from riding up during a parachute descent. When not used, this tail would hang down behind the wearer's knees, and thus came to be called a “beavertail.” British paratroops, nicknamed “Red Devils” by the Germans, later earned the name “Devils with tails” from this feature. The smock was a very baggy garment, designed to be worn over the battledress and often hung down to just above the knees of wearers.
-A second series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock was supposedly produced between late 1942 and 1943. A major contested feature of these smocks (and the later 2nd Pattern) is that the camouflage design was screenprinted rather than hand-painted. However, many collectors and historians strongly disagree with this claim, as there is little or no documentation to substantiate any pattern repeat in the wartime smocks. The claim, therefore, remains unsubstantiated. Most other features of the "second series" smock remained otherwise the same, although modifications to the smock, such as adding additional pockets or a full-length zipper, became more commonplace by this time with those that could afford them. Examples also exist of smocks from this era that have metal snaps to hold up the beavertail at the back, buttoning tabs at the cuffs (instead of knitted cuffs), and straightened sleeves (all technically features of the 2nd Pattern smock). If anything, then, we can categorize the "second series" 1st Pattern Denison smocks as “transitional” and highly varied in their production features.
+A second series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock was produced between late 1942 and 1943. A major contested feature of these smocks (and the later 2nd Pattern) is that the camouflage design was screenprinted rather than hand-painted. However, many collectors and historians strongly disagree with this claim, as there is little or no documentation to substantiate any pattern repeat in the wartime smocks. The claim, therefore, remains unsubstantiated. Certainly there is enough evidence to conclude that the style of camouflage differs from that of the first series, with the base coat being a darker olive green color and there being more detail in the definition of the brushstrokes.  <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref> Most other features of the "second series" smock remained otherwise the same, although modifications to the smock, such as adding additional pockets or a full-length zipper, became more commonplace by this time with those that could afford them. Examples also exist of smocks from this era that have metal snaps to hold up the beavertail at the back, buttoning tabs at the cuffs (instead of knitted cuffs), and straightened sleeves (all technically features of the 2nd Pattern smock). If anything, then, we can categorize the "second series" 1st Pattern Denison smocks as “transitional” and highly varied in their production features.
 * An example of a standard 1st Pattern Denison smock can be seen here
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 The 2nd Pattern Denison smock began to replace the earlier models in 1944. This version featured buttoning tabs at the cuffs, and brass snap fasteners to stow the beavertail flap inside the jacket when not needed. Other detail differences included a central seam running down the front, and tube shaped sleeves (the 1st Pattern had a one piece front and tapered sleeves). The half zip on this smock was brass instead of steel. The colours of the 2nd pattern smock also differed from those of the earlier smocks, with the base colour varying from a sand to a light yellowish-olive combination, and overlying brushstrokes of reddish brown and dark olive green. These colours were thought better suited to the North Western European theatre. Although not issued this way, it was common practice to sew knitted cuffs (usually cut off woolen hose tops) to the sleeve cuffs to inhibit billowing whilst deployed on airborne operations.
 * An example of the 2nd Pattern Denison Smock can be seen here
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 [[File:denison2e.jpg|250px]]
 [[File:denison2f.jpg|250px]]
 Several officer’s models of the Denison smock have been documented after 1942. The General Officer smock was manufactured with a full-length zipper, had slanted chest pockets at a much more severe angle than the standard smock, and sported faun-colored angora wool knitted collar lining and cuffs at the wrist. Due to the small number of officers of this rank, these may have been custom tailored for the individual in [[United Kingdom|England]]. Many officers, however, are also pictured during the war wearing standard-style smocks with professionally tailored full-length zippers and angora wool collars or knitted cuffs. It is believed these were also custom tailored back in Britain, although some historians claim the smocks were in fact manufactured this way specifically for officers.

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 The very first paratrooper oversmocks issued to British personnel were modeled after the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German]] airborne troops’ ''knochensack'' or “bone sack.” The British smock was very probably based on the Luftwaffe 1st pattern smock, which had a fall collar, two short, permanently tailored-in legs, and a front fastener of either buttons or a zipper. The British version, labeled simply "Jackets, Parachutists" (known unofficially as the 1940 Pattern Airborne Smock,) was made of medium khaki-colored cotton gabardine fabric and produced in very limited numbers between 1941 and 1942. Issued for the initial phases of British airborne training, photographs confirm the smocks were worn during such operations as the Tragindo Aqueduct raid (February 1941) and the Bruneval raid (February 1942). <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 9-10</ref>
-The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." Although many historical sources suggest the Denison smock bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>, research conducted by the British Airborne Assault museum has largely disproven this claim. Many published sources indicate Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. It is worth noting, however, that some of the most rigorous research of official, wartime sources, failed to produce any official documentation showing such a person actually existed during this early stage of the war. Likewise, there is mystery surrounding the legitimacy of Oliver Messel's contribution to the camouflage project as well. <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>
+The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." Although many historical sources suggest the Denison smock bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison (note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>, research conducted by the British Airborne Assault museum has largely disproven this claim.<ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>
 The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, hand-painted with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on these original Denisons was not roller-printed, but actually hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes, thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter (owing to fluctuations in dye batches and individual methods of creating the pattern). Indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself).

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The very first paratrooper oversmocks issued to British personnel were modeled after the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German]] airborne troops’ ''knochensack'' or “bone sack.” The British smock was very probably based on the Luftwaffe 1st pattern smock, which had a fall collar, two short, permanently tailored-in legs, and a front fastener of either buttons or a zipper. The British version, labeled simply "Jackets, Parachutists" (known unofficially as the 1940 Pattern Airborne Smock,) was made of medium khaki-colored cotton gabardine fabric and produced in very limited numbers between 1941 and 1942. Issued for the initial phases of British airborne training, photographs confirm the smocks were worn during such operations as the Tragindo Aqueduct raid (February 1941) and the Bruneval raid (February 1942). <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 9-10</ref>
-The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." The Denison smock reputedly bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>. Many published sources indicate Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. It is worth noting, however, that some of the most rigorous research of official, wartime sources, failed to produce any official documentation showing such a person actually existed during this early stage of the war. Likewise, there is mystery surrounding the legitimacy of Oliver Messel's contribution to the camouflage project as well. <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>
+The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." Although many historical sources suggest the Denison smock bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>, research conducted by the British Airborne Assault museum has largely disproven this claim. Many published sources indicate Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. It is worth noting, however, that some of the most rigorous research of official, wartime sources, failed to produce any official documentation showing such a person actually existed during this early stage of the war. Likewise, there is mystery surrounding the legitimacy of Oliver Messel's contribution to the camouflage project as well. <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>
 The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, hand-painted with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on these original Denisons was not roller-printed, but actually hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes, thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter (owing to fluctuations in dye batches and individual methods of creating the pattern). Indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself).

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 The purpose of this article is to provide an introductory overview of the development of the [[United Kingdom|British]] Denison Camouflage Airborne Smock that emerged during the Second World War.<ref>Facts and information for this article have been collected from a variety of academic and public sources (including the author's own observations) but any errors or omissions are my own. I welcome additional contributions or corrections to this article from authoritative sources that are willing to provide documentation to substantiate any such additions. Please direct comments to: icus@camouflagesociety.org</ref>
-The very first paratrooper oversmocks issued to British personnel were modeled after the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German]] airborne troops’ ''knochensack'' or “bone sack.” The British smock was very probably based on the Luftwaffe 1st pattern smock, which had a fall collar, two short, permanently tailored-in legs, and a front fastener of either buttons or a zipper. The British version, labeled simply "Jackets, Parachutists" (known unofficially as the 1940 Pattern Airborne Smock,) was made of medium khaki-colored cotton gabardine fabric and produced in very limited numbers between 1941 and 1942. Issued for the initial phases of British airborne training, photographs confirm the smocks were worn during such operations as the Tragindo Aqueduct raid (February 1941) and the Bruneval raid (February 1942).
+The very first paratrooper oversmocks issued to British personnel were modeled after the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German]] airborne troops’ ''knochensack'' or “bone sack.” The British smock was very probably based on the Luftwaffe 1st pattern smock, which had a fall collar, two short, permanently tailored-in legs, and a front fastener of either buttons or a zipper. The British version, labeled simply "Jackets, Parachutists" (known unofficially as the 1940 Pattern Airborne Smock,) was made of medium khaki-colored cotton gabardine fabric and produced in very limited numbers between 1941 and 1942. Issued for the initial phases of British airborne training, photographs confirm the smocks were worn during such operations as the Tragindo Aqueduct raid (February 1941) and the Bruneval raid (February 1942). <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 9-10</ref>
 The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." The Denison smock reputedly bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), who it is claimed was attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>. Many published sources indicate Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. It is worth noting, however, that some of the most rigorous research of official, wartime sources, failed to produce any official documentation showing such a person actually existed during this early stage of the war. Likewise, there is mystery surrounding the legitimacy of Oliver Messel's contribution to the camouflage project as well. <ref>Denison: British Airborne Specialist Clothing From WW2 to the Present Day (Military Mode Publishing, UK, 2013) p. 46</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:56, 11 September 2023
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	The first series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock had a yellowish-sand coloured base, with broad pea green and dark brown stripes, or "[[brushstroke\|brushstrokes]]". With subsequent washings or exposure to weather, the base and overlying colours faded and blended considerably. The colours of the 1st pattern smock were thought to best suit the wearer to the North African and Italian theatres, the first areas of operation into which British airborne personnel were deployed during the war. This smock had a steel half zipper running from the collar down the front, four external pockets that secured with brass snaps (two on the chest and two below the waist), two map or document pockets inside the chest, knitted wool cuffs, short adjustment tabs at either side of the bottom of the smock, and shoulder straps that secured with plastic battle dress buttons. The inside of the collar was lined with brown woolen material, and a flap fastened beneath the crotch from the back to the front of the smock with brass Newey snaps, which kept it from riding up during a parachute descent. When not used, this tail would hang down behind the wearer's knees, and thus came to be called a “beavertail.” British paratroops, nicknamed “Red Devils” by the Germans, later earned the name “Devils with tails” from this feature. The smock was a very baggy garment, designed to be worn over the battledress and often hung down to just above the knees of wearers.		The first series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock had a yellowish-sand coloured base, with broad pea green and dark brown stripes, or "[[brushstroke\|brushstrokes]]". With subsequent washings or exposure to weather, the base and overlying colours faded and blended considerably. The colours of the 1st pattern smock were thought to best suit the wearer to the North African and Italian theatres, the first areas of operation into which British airborne personnel were deployed during the war. This smock had a steel half zipper running from the collar down the front, four external pockets that secured with brass snaps (two on the chest and two below the waist), two map or document pockets inside the chest, knitted wool cuffs, short adjustment tabs at either side of the bottom of the smock, and shoulder straps that secured with plastic battle dress buttons. The inside of the collar was lined with brown woolen material, and a flap fastened beneath the crotch from the back to the front of the smock with brass Newey snaps, which kept it from riding up during a parachute descent. When not used, this tail would hang down behind the wearer's knees, and thus came to be called a “beavertail.” British paratroops, nicknamed “Red Devils” by the Germans, later earned the name “Devils with tails” from this feature. The smock was a very baggy garment, designed to be worn over the battledress and often hung down to just above the knees of wearers.

−	A second series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock was supposedly produced between late 1942 and 1943. ~~The~~ major contested feature of these smocks (and the later 2nd Pattern) is that the camouflage design was screenprinted rather than hand-painted. However, many collectors and historians strongly disagree with this claim, as there is little or no documentation to substantiate any pattern repeat in the wartime smocks. The claim, therefore, remains unsubstantiated. Most other features of the "second series" smock remained otherwise the same, although modifications to the smock, such as adding additional pockets or a full-length zipper, became more commonplace by this time with those that could afford them. Examples also exist of smocks from this era that have metal snaps to hold up the beavertail at the back, buttoning tabs at the cuffs (instead of knitted cuffs), and straightened sleeves (all technically features of the 2nd Pattern smock). If anything, then, we can categorize the "second series" 1st Pattern Denison smocks as “transitional” and highly varied in their production features.	+	A second series of the 1st Pattern Denison smock was supposedly produced between late 1942 and 1943. A major contested feature of these smocks (and the later 2nd Pattern) is that the camouflage design was screenprinted rather than hand-painted. However, many collectors and historians strongly disagree with this claim, as there is little or no documentation to substantiate any pattern repeat in the wartime smocks. The claim, therefore, remains unsubstantiated. Most other features of the "second series" smock remained otherwise the same, although modifications to the smock, such as adding additional pockets or a full-length zipper, became more commonplace by this time with those that could afford them. Examples also exist of smocks from this era that have metal snaps to hold up the beavertail at the back, buttoning tabs at the cuffs (instead of knitted cuffs), and straightened sleeves (all technically features of the 2nd Pattern smock). If anything, then, we can categorize the "second series" 1st Pattern Denison smocks as “transitional” and highly varied in their production features.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:07, 25 March 2020
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	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

−	<references>	+	<references/>

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The very first paratrooper oversmocks issued to British psersonnel were modeled after the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German]] airborne troops’ ''knochensack'' or “bone sack.” These were probably patterned after the Luftwaffe 1st pattern smock, which had a fall collar, two short, permanently tailored-in legs, and a front fastener of either buttons or a zipper. The British version, known unofficially as the 1940 Pattern Airborne Smock, was made of olive green cotton drill cloth and produced in very limited numbers for the initial phases of British airborne training.
-The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." The Denison smock reputedly bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), reputedly attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel. Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, hand-painted with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on these original Denisons was not roller-printed, but actually hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes, thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter (owing to fluctuations in dye batches and individual methods of creating the pattern). Indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself).
+The German-style smocks were replaced by the camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,” “Smock, Denison (Airborne Troops)” or "Smock, Denison (Parachutist)." The Denison smock reputedly bears the name of a Major Mervyn Dennison <ref>http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1998-06-204-1</ref>(note spelling), reputedly attached to a military camouflage unit under the command of stage designer Olive Messel<ref>http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/mervyn_dennison.htm</ref>. Denison was largely responsible for the smock’s design as well as the development of the camouflage pattern itself. The original camouflage airborne smock was made of medium weight windproof khaki-coloured cotton drill cloth, hand-painted with non-colourfast dyes in broad green and brown coloured stripes or “[[brushstroke|brushstrokes]],” and issued to Allied airborne personnel until 1944 (when the smock pattern was changed). The camouflage pattern on these original Denisons was not roller-printed, but actually hand-painted using large, mop-like brushes, thus accounting for broad variation among smocks made during different periods in the war and shortly thereafter (owing to fluctuations in dye batches and individual methods of creating the pattern). Indeed, for this reason many collectors and historians will claim that "no two Denison smocks are alike" (referring to the camouflage design itself).
 The Denison airborne smock was initially issued to members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a clandestine special warfare unit, but became standard issue to British Airborne Forces (including Glider Infantry and Glider Pilots). It also saw use with other units operating in the European Theater of Operation, including the Special Air Service (SAS), Army Commandos and the Royal Marines. Smocks were provided to Commonwealth airborne units such as the [[Canada|Canadian]] 1st Parachute Battalion, and to the airborne-trained European allied forces in exile ([[Netherlands|Dutch]], [[Belgium|Belgians]], [[France|French]], [[Poland|Polish]], et al).