Reconstruction of the uniform and fighting order(webbing) of 42 Cdo. at Suez Contributed by By Angus Jones Ex 42 Commando

The basic uniform consisted of a khaki shirt, olive green denim trousers, short khaki puttees, SV boots(rubber commando soles) not shown ,denison smock, face veil, not shown, and green beret with brass cap badge. The fighting order (webbing) was WW2 pattern. The fighting order consisted of belt, cross straps, entrenching tool (in case), pouches, water bottle in carrier, naval issue blade bayonet (to suit No.4 rifle) in bayonet frog, small pack with "L" straps and a waterproof ground sheet, not shown, protruding from the under the flap of the pack. A first field dressing, would be in the front pocket of the trousers, and a naval issue clasp knife, with marlin spike, in the side pocket. In the army the webbing would be blancoed, in the Royal Marines, it would be blackened with boot polish, then brushed to a shine (like cleaning shoes). On active service the brass parts would not be cleaned. This was a bonus. You didn't have to poke matchsticks into the eyelet holes on the belt etc.