New Uniforms

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 15, 21 March 1940, Page 3

New Uniforms

Outfit for Third Echelon Working to Government specifications, New Zealand firms have started to make Army uniforms to the pattern of the British battle dress. The Minister of - Defence, the Hon. F. Nash, said it was intended to equip all members of the third echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force with this uniform. “We have already gone into producton with this battle dress,” said Mr. Jones. “The Government has placed orders for enough for the whole of the third echelon, and we will continue to manufacture them for all subsequent drafts.” ’ Comfort and Durability.

The battle dress, of which a sample was recently demonstrated at Burnham camp, is the result of a number of years of research to secure comfort and durability. It also includes

facilities to carry soldiers’ personal possessions, such as small trinkets.

Instead of the better-known khaki tunic with a stocklike collar, there is a belted blouse, rather like a lumber jacket, with a soft buttoned collar, buttoned cuffs and two fair-sized patch pockets on the chest.

The trousers also are very different from the familiar “stove-pipes” of the present New Zealand uniform. Said by Mr. Jones to resemble ski-ing trousers, they are of ankle length and wide, and have a deep patch pocket on the front of the left thigh and another on the back. They can be secured over the boot with either a strap or a gaiter. Khaki is still the odour, but another notable difference is the absence of glinting brass buttons, thus relieving the soldier of his present monotonous task of polishing. The New Zealanders, said Mr. Jones, would retain their distinctive hats. Company regimental officers are to be issued with the same type of uniform as the men. This is a development of a practice inaugurated in the Great War after it had been found that the distinctive uniforms of officers made attractive targets for snipers.