NEW UNIFORM FOR ARMY NOW FULLY TESTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1950, Page 8

NEW UNIFORM FOR ARMY NOW FULLY TESTED

WELLINGTON, This Day (0.C.).— Six New Zealand soldiers have became properly dressed again. At least, they are once more wearing the uniform of the New Zealand Army. I For two periods of three months during the last year they have been wearing experimental clothing supplied by the War Office. It consisted of a peaked cap made of waterrepellent gabardine designed to protect the head from wet and cold and the eyes from glare; a combat suit ■' consisting of a smock and trousers made of similar material; and a greaticoat (ditto material) with, a warm ! lining usable either as a liner under ; the combat suit oi' as a greatcoat. ' Use In The Field

| The trials aimed to find out whether the clothing is satisfactory to the wearer for use in the field in temperate climates. They were arranged for a summer period from December to February and a winter period from June to August. Tests have also been carried out in the .United Kingdom, Australia and the i Middle East. I In the first period of the New i Zealand tests four sets of the cloth- | ing were issued to men receiving ini struction in minor tactics at the Army ‘School and two sets were, issued to Regular Force cadets .undergoing basic infantry training. During the winter trial the test clothing ’ was worn by Regular Force'cadets in training as potential'instructors. I Every opportunity was taken to I test the garments in field conditions las similar as possible to those enj countered in war. As laid down in 'the War Office conditions for the tests, officers with battle experience were selected to take charge of them. Diaries lsept

They kept day-to-day diaries of the weather’ conditions and the. activities of the men wearing the test clothing. At the end of the trials troops opinion survey's were obtained to find out what soldiers generally thought about the experimental clothing. Yes, and the wearers filled in a questionnaire, too. It sought information about each item of clothing worn.

What was the result of all these tests? Was the clothing considered better than existing uniforms? Are New Zealand soldiers itching to have it out of the experimental stage so that they can all wear it? The answers to those questions, says Army Headquarters, are in reports which have been sent to the War Office.