Korean War question (1 Viewer)

[TomB]

From attch pic it looks like 2 RAR/3 RAR...wore Yankee type mud gaiters instead of the Brit ankle type gaiters...my question is......what color was the gaiter ?.....were they blancoed in the light green as was the webbing at the time...or...was the gaiters left their dirty grey ( from memory) color ? These gaiters were used by the Aust army after Korea and were blackened with boot polish which made a mess of your BD trousers......I have seen a pic in which the gaiters appeared white...which would indicate a light blanco ?....not meathead MP....anyone have any idea's?,,,TomB

 

[valmy33]

View attachment 134319 From attch pic it looks like 2 RAR/3 RAR...wore Yankee type mud gaiters instead of the Brit ankle type gaiters...my question is......what color was the gaiter ?.....were they blancoed in the light green as was the webbing at the time...or...was the gaiters left their dirty grey ( from memory) color ? These gaiters were used by the Aust army after Korea and were blackened with boot polish which made a mess of your BD trousers......I have seen a pic in which the gaiters appeared white...which would indicate a light blanco ?....not meathead MP....anyone have any idea's?,,,TomB

Hi TomB,

There's a diorama about the battle of Kapyong at the Australian war memorial.
Here you can find a picture about it. The color seems to be sand.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traceyjohns/2520811896/

Faithfully
Valmy

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi There

If they were American issue like the ones our Marines and Soldiers wore in WWII as well they are a light khaki or Sand color. Since this was a multinational effort they may have gotten them from the US Depots and just issued them as is as opposed to taking the time to dye them. This is of course a guess on my part. Would have to see if there are any sites out there in the ether net that discuss this sort of equipment, and know the net there is probably someone out there that is discussing the intricacies of supply and keeping an army in the field squared away.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

A useful book that I once borrowed from my local library on GI uniforms was this one Tom. It has over 240 pages - and I'm sure there was a chapter on Uniforms of the Korean War. I remember flicking through them - and was struck by how similar they were to those of WW2.

It contained about 160 colour illustrations - and about a hundred in black and white - many drawn from Osprey books - and I certainly would recommend it for any painter. Published in 1990 - so maybe out of print now - but maybe check out your local library to see if they have ( or can get a loan of) a copy. Not sure how your library system works down under. pic. below. jb

 

[TomB]

Hi There

If they were American issue like the ones our Marines and Soldiers wore in WWII as well they are a light khaki or Sand color. Since this was a multinational effort they may have gotten them from the US Depots and just issued them as is as opposed to taking the time to dye them. This is of course a guess on my part. Would have to see if there are any sites out there in the ether net that discuss this sort of equipment, and know the net there is probably someone out there that is discussing the intricacies of supply and keeping an army in the field squared away.

Dave

Thanks....light khaki would fit in with the period...my recollection of them were a greyish color ( the gaiters were Aust army issue several yrs after the Korean war finished),but that was over 50 yrs ago and we stained them black anyway....could be they were US pattern ...made in Aust gaiters...or...my memory is worse than I think.....I am curious to find out if they were blancoed (green stain) the same as the Brit WW2 webbing used by the Aust army at the time.....as the gaiters were field issue and not walking out dress ( at that time) I wondered why they would be blancoed ....probably just more army bulldust.....tally ho and all that rubbish...you are not allowed to be shoot at unless regimentally dressed....thanks for the info....TomB

 

[TomB]

A useful book that I once borrowed from my local library on GI uniforms was this one Tom. It has over 240 pages - and I'm sure there was a chapter on Uniforms of the Korean War. I remember flicking through them - and was struck by how similar they were to those of WW2.

It contained about 160 colour illustrations - and about a hundred in black and white - many drawn from Osprey books - and I certainly would recommend it for any painter. Published in 1990 - so maybe out of print now - but maybe check out your local library to see if they have ( or can get a loan of) a copy. Not sure how your library system works down under. pic. below. jb

An excellent books by the description...would be worth having...thanks for the info.....I saw some black and white pic's of some "K Force" diggers as they were called and noticed the Ameican issued gaiters which appeared to be blancoed.....Why I thought....they were field issue ...not walking out dress ( the same type of gaiter was later issued to the Aust army... US pattern.. maybe Aust made...do not know ...these were initially used as bush gaiters only.. but ended up being blackened and used as part of the walking out dress)....I suppose the answer to them being blancoed was so it fitted in with the Brit issued blancoed webbing and was just.. army bulldust.....now...if I had been interested in that question 50 plus yrs ago I could have asked a "K Force " digger and more than likely...got a very colorfull answer.........regards Tomb

 

[theBaron]

I have that book, and I can take a look when I get home tonight. I think Dave's response is very likely correct.

Prost!
Brad

 

[TomB]

Hi TomB,

There's a diorama about the battle of Kapyong at the Australian war memorial.
Here you can find a picture about it. The color seems to be sand.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traceyjohns/2520811896/

Faithfully
Valmy

Thanks for that Valmy....I checked the webb site and also google which gave a much better picture or several pictures and you can see the color is Khaki....the webbing is also Khaki......which....is a problem for me....as I had come to the conclusion that the gaiters were blancoed Green as was the custom with the Brit WW2 webbing issued to the Aust army at that time......the un-blancoed webbing was Khaki ....the khaki gaiters and kahki webbing are right for the diorama...fine....but.....knowing all the bulldust in the army I do not think the "K Force" diggers got away without blancoing their webbing.....50 plus yrs ago I could have asked a "K Force digger the color of his webbing and gaiters.....so really the question remains...Green or Khaki....not that it matters...I was just curious after seeing an old black and white photo.....thanks for the reply......regards TomB

 

[TomB]

I have that book, and I can take a look when I get home tonight. I think Dave's response is very likely correct.

Prost!
Brad

I agree...Dave's answer would be correct.....Khaki would have been right.......The US pattern gaiters were issued in Aust to the Aust army some time after the Korean war...I remember them as being a grey color....they could have been Aust made then or my memory aint as good as I think.....they were made from canvas...that I just remembered...that bit is right....whether or not they were blancoed by "K Force" I do not know.....after checking a few refs suggested by Valmy I am more curious now....historical correctness is not my thing but the gaitor color has now got me interested......regards TomB