The Equipment of the 4th Battalion Soldier 1944/45

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The purpose of the Infantry Soldier is fundamentally to close with and kill the enemy - and to occupy and hold ground won. When involved in Operations, the British soldier of 1944/45 wore what was known as “Battle Order”

Woollen Serge Battledress blouse and trousers were worn over a wool shirt or vest. Steel Helmets would be worn, either the Mk 2 as here or the later Mk 3 turtle helmet. In most cases these would be covered in sacking and netting and garnished with hessian strips, in order to break up the dome like shape and aid personal camouflage.
On his feet the soldier wore standard ankle “ammo” boots with webbing gaiters.
A full set of 37 Pattern load carrying webbing was worn, of particular note in this front view are the two ammunition pouches, specifically designed to hold magazines for the Bren light machine gun. Every man in the section would carry at least 2 magazines, each containing 28/30 rounds of 303 ammunition. 

This is a representation of the kit and accoutrements carried by the typical Infantry Soldier. A closer look at the Small pack content is shown below.
In addition to the small pack the Infantryman carried the full set of 37 pattern webbing which comprised a Web belt, 2 cross straps, right and left Ammunition pouches, an entrenching tool, water bottle, Bayonet frog with Spike Bayonet, clasp knife and lightweight Gas Mask. A rolled up Gas cape was also attached to the web belt underneath the Small pack. It was standard practice for every man to carry at least one first field dressing and many experienced soldiers carried additional bandage or compression pads in the event of being hit. Also shown is the Spade GS - troops found the issued entrenching tool to be completely inadequate for digging in and every man in the section carried a spade or pick as an alternative.
A typical Ammunition load would be 2 full magazines for the Bren light machine gun, 50/100 rounds of 303 ammunition in cotton Bandoliers and 2 No 36 Grenades.
Most importantly, each man carried an enamelled tin mug, normally clipped to the Small pack flap - ready to “brew up” as soon as the opportunity arose.

All British Soldiers carried their Haversack (Small pack) as part of their Battle Order. Within it, they carried a variety of essential kit. The layout here is typical. It includes the rain cape/ground sheet, emergency rations and water purification tablets, a soft hat - in this case the GS cap or “Cap Rediculous” as the troops referred to them - a woollen pullover for extra warmth if needed, a personal small net often worn as a scarf around the neck, 2 mess tins, and cover, cutlery, housewife, wool gloves with cover, spare socks, wool balaclava, a 24 hour ration box, personal cooker and heating tablets, wash roll and shaving kit, towel and brushes. 

British Soldiers carried a variety of personal items either in their Battldress or tucked inside their Webbing pouches. Every soldier wore 2 fibre identity tags, one of which was to be retained on his body should he be Killed in Action. He also carried his AB64 which was his full personal record of army service. This was a record of all the Soldier’s Service life from Enlistment to Discharge, including Training, Qualifications, Medical records, etc. He would almost certainly carry some personal items such as letters and photos from home, which were always a welcome boost to morale. He would also perhaps retain his issued France pamphlet, writing materials, invasion currency and perhaps a book, magazine or newspaper. He may also carry a diary and a Service issue Bible - there being very few atheists on the Battlefield.
In keeping with the period the soldier would almost certainly be a Smoker and would carry cigarettes or pipe tobacco ready to light up at the earliest opportunity. Smoking was almost universal. Like brewing up a cup of tea, a “fag” was another means of coping with the ongoing stress and mental strain of the front line. 

This rear view of the 37 pattern webbing set shows the haversack (small pack) with groundsheet/cape tucked under the external flap. Also visible are the water bottle holding 1 pint of water on the right and the lightweight gas mask on the left. In the centre is the personal entrenching tool - a throwback to WW1 - which was re issued when the early war (BEF) small spade was found to be unsuitable. The reissued entrenching tool, whilst sitting better on the webbing set, was just as inadequate when it came to digging in. Therefore GS spades or Picks were almost universally carried by every man. Getting underground quickly was a standard requirement for the infantry and such implements, whilst potentially cumbersome, were an essential item and very often life savers. This example of a GS shovel is carried behind the pack which was common. However another common way of carrying was to push the handle under the web belt at the front with the spade head resting across the abdomen area. Some viewed this as an added element of protection for vital organs against low velocity impacts. 

The British Soldier was still in the main, wearing WW1 Service Dress at the outbreak of WW2. Many soldiers in the BEF who went to France in 1939/40 however, had already been issued with the new Battledress Suit, which at the time in the late 1930’s, was fairly revolutionary.
It comprised a short blouse and set of high waisted trousers manufactured in wool serge. A soft hat was worn when out of action, either the familiar Forage cap (chip bag) style or the later 1943 issued GS Cap, a Beret like cap which the troops did not like, calling it the “Cap rediculous”.
Underneath the Battledress, the Soldier wore Cotton underwear, a woollen uncollared shirt and woollen socks.
Leather, Hobnailed ammo boots completed the outfit.
Additional “Cold Weather” clothing was also issued and some of the most commonly seen items are shown below. These are woollen gloves, a wool cap comforter, the sleeveless Leather Jerkin, the woollen Pullover, a heavy Great coat and when available a camouflage wind proof Smock. If they could get them, troops would also use the Airborne issued Denison smock, but this was an exception and was normally only worn in the Infantry Rifle companies by Sniper teams.

The No4 Rifle was the standard armament for the Infantry soldier, with the majority of the Infantry section being thus armed. It was an accurate, robust and reliable weapon. Single shot and bolt operated, the weapon could hold 10 rounds, loaded directly into the breech in 2 x 5 round clips of .303 ammunition. It had an effective range of 1000 yards using the integral flip up battle sights.
A short Spike bayonet (called a Pig Sticker) was fitted when advancing to contact with the enemy. This was far more practical than the early war sword type bayonets and could be attached to the later type entrenching tool helve and used as a mine probe.
Ammunition was supplied in boxes - either loose in Cartons, in Cotton Bandoliers, or in Stripless Belts for the Vickers machine gun.
Most infantryman carried at least one Bandolier which held 50 Rounds - two if there was sufficient issue or the demands of the Operation warranted it.
The rifle came with an integral pull through and oil bottle enclosed in the butt, whilst later a complete cleaning kit was issued. 

If ever there was a weapon that fulfilled all the requirements placed upon it and at the same time was “loved“ by the troops who used it, the “Bren” was that weapon. It was quite simply one of the finest light machine guns ever made.
It was of Czech design, its name coming from a combination of the Czech town Brno and the British town Enfield, where it was designed and manufactured respectively. 

It was of .303 calibre and was fed via curved 30 round magazines loaded on the top of the receiver. It was gas regulated and could fire at a maximum rate of 600 rounds per minute. It was robust, reliable and easy to strip and assemble. A spare barrel was carried which could be swapped out in seconds simply by lifting the barrel catch and moving it forward and off the weapon. Regular barrel changes were essential to prevent them from over heating and warping.
If anything it was almost too accurate as it could produce tight groupings rather than a wider cone of fire. However, it was supremely good at keeping enemy heads down and its accuracy was extremely useful when assaulting bunkers and pill boxes - shots being placed directly into the firing slits.
It was the Infantry section’s main firepower and was key to the section‘s ability to use “Fire and Movement” in the attack, aswell as providing the section/platoons main defensive firepower. The Bren group comprised the number 1 who carried and fired the weapon, the number 2 who carried extra ammunition in a pair of Utility pouches, the spare barrel satchel and loaded the magazines onto the weapon and the Lance Corporal commander who directed fire.
The weapon was so good, that post war it continued in front line service with the British army well in to the 1990’s, the weapon being rebored to accept standard NATO 7.62mm ammunition. 

The Sten has an almost mythical reputation - and for all the wrong reasons. Stories abound about how much it was disliked and the fact that it was poorly made. Most worrying is that it was thought to need little encouragement to accidentally “go off” simply by being dropped or knocked.
Whilst there may well be some truth in some of this, the fact is that the Sten was actually a useful close combat weapon, primarily used by Officers and NCO’s. It was able to fire semi and fully automatic and was of 9mm calibre. It was fed by a 28 round magazine for which a specialist loading tool was provided. The weapon operated on a simple “blow back” principle whereby the explosive discharge of a round forced the bolt backwards on its spring, which in turn sent the bolt back to ignite the next round, and so on.
Yes it was certainly crude and took little skilled engineering to manufacture. But these were also strengths in that the weapon could be quickly produced in huge numbers and at very low cost. It could also be easily broken down into a number of small sections making it ideal for Parachute troops and it was very popular with Resistance fighters in occupied countries.
For the Infantry, it was very effective in close quarter battle. The 9mm round provided good stopping power and for trench or house clearing it could lay down and spray alot of rounds when pin point accuracy was not needed.
Several marks were produced, with the 3 most common shown here - the Mk 2, Mk 3 and the Mk 5. The Mk 5 was regarded as the best of the variants and was markedly different in that it had a wooden butt, a wooden pistol grip and a wooden fore grip. it was also fitted with the same foresights and barrel arrangement as those on the No4 Rifle so could take a spike bayonet if required. 

The 2 inch mortar was an extremely useful weapon. It was deployed as part of the Platoon Headquarters section along with the PIAT. It was operated by one man with another acting as loader, who also carried rounds for the weapon in 6 bomb cardboard carriers, 3 carriers being contained within the steel ammunition box B167. It could fire a variety of different ordnance - HE, Smoke and Illumination.
Whilst High Explosive rounds were most suitable for direct attack against prepared positions, the Smoke round was most commonly used to provide cover to other Infantryman when assaulting an enemy position, particularly if the approach afforded limited cover or was over an area of open ground. The rounds each weighed approximately 2 lbs and the range of the weapon was 500/750 yards - a big improvement on Rifle grenade equivalents.
A rudimentary sight was issued and attached to the tube as shown fitted to the example here. However an experienced crew was able to deliver very accurate fire simply by using their own judgement.
This example also has the web cleaning kit which contained brushes, gauze, flannalette and lubricating oil. Early models had a large, heavy folding base plate, but this was later dispensed with in favour of the small spade type plate as seen in this example. It made the weapon much more “handy” when in use. When not in use it was common for the Number 1 to carry the weapon on the top of the small pack, tucked underneath the flap. Alternatively, some weapons were fitted with a carrying handle similar to those seen on the Bren gun. 

The PIAT was the Infantry’s immediate defence against enemy Tanks and Armoured vehicles. It was operated by a two man team, one operating the weapon and the other acting as loader.
It operated via a massive spring and spigot, which took significant effort to cock and initially it had to be done in the prone position - by placing the feet either side of the butt pad and pulling the weapon up over the chest until the spring was sufficiently wound back and the Spigot was locked in place. Once cocked, a hollow charge round was placed in the firing tray and once a target was sighted, the weapon was discharged by squeezing the trigger. The spigot was forced forward this igniting a charge in the tail of the PIAT bomb and sending it on its way. The vicious recoil then re cocked the weapon ready for another round. The effective range was fairly short - up to a maximum of around 100 yards - which was an uncomfortably close distance when taking on enemy armour. It also meant that the firer’s position was likely exposed once the weapon was discharged. The hollow charge round however, had good penetration characteristics and was effective in the absence of heavier AT support which was provided via the Battalion’s 6 pounder AT guns. Like the Mortars, the bombs were carried in 3 round cardboard carriers, with up to 4 sets of carriers being transported by the loader utilising the webbing carrying straps.
Perhaps the most famous PIAT action was during the Battle for Arnhem when Major Robert Cain used one to repeatedly stalk and destroy a number of German tanks and Armoured vehicles, all whilst already wounded. Thankfully, Major Cain survived the battle and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions - one of 5 awarded during Operation Market Garden. 

The British Army generally only issued Handguns to Officers and NCO’s, or to those troops where the carrying of other weapons was impractical or unwarranted, such as Armoured crews, Military Police or Medical personnel (for personal protection)

The selection of Handguns shown here include a typical Officers weapon - the 6 shot .38 Revolver, a Browning 9mm automatic and two Signal Flare Pistols.

The Wembley .380 Revolver was probably the commonest Handgun used as a personal weapon, particularly by Officers. It was not particularly accurate other than at very close range. It was carried in an Officer’s 37 pattern webbing Pistol set, comprising Holster, ammunition pouch, Compass pouch and Binoculars.
The 9mm Browning was a top slide,13 round magazine fed automatic weapon. It was a high quality weapon and was again popular. Airborne and specialist troops seemed to prefer it but it was not a common sight in the Infantry ranks other than Canadian units. 

The two Flare pistols used 1 inch cartridges which discharged different coloured flares, Red, Green and White. These had numerous uses for visual signalling, such as to indicate the start or ending of an attack or to illuminate an area to improve visibility when in Defence. Often they were tucked into a Battledress Blouse or the Webbing belt, but a holster for them was provided aswell in both Webbing or Leather, particularly useful when using the larger brass version with fluted barrel. 

One of the main Company and Battalion level Wireless sets used throughout the war was the manpacked 18 set. The Wireless was a Transmitter/Receiver with integral Battery power supply all self contained in a box like case. The front face was closed when not in use by two folding flaps and a canvas cover. The ancillaries (Head phones, Morse key, Spare parts box) were all carried in a seperate webbing satchel.
The Wireless was carried on the back of the Operator, using a set of integral webbing straps, from which the hooked attachments connected to the buckles on the 37 pattern Ammunition pouches, just as with the small pack. An integral webbing belt helped to support the set and distribute some of the weight around the waist and off the shoulders. The Operator wore a Headset/mic on the move whilst a second Headset/mic could be plugged in and worn by the Company Commander when on the move. The Wireless would be tuned in to the overall Command “net” enabling communications between Company’s and Platoons and upward to Battalion level. Range was approximately 10 miles dependent upon terrain. 

At Platoon level the standard Wireless equipment was the 38 set. It was a small short range set with a nominal range of approximately 1 mile. The Wireless itself was carried in a skeleton type webbing cradle with an integral webbing strap that enabled the set to be carried across the Operator’s chest.
A headset was worn along with either a throat microphone or a hand held version. These were plugged into a junction box connected to the set itself. The Battery which was carried in a seperate satchel, was in turn connected to the junction box. The set operated with a 12 foot aerial carried in a long webbing carrier when not in use. 

One of the most commonly used British Wireless sets in service during WW2 was the 19 set.

It was anTransceiver first developed in 1941 and was able to transmit and receive and operated with Intercom, Voice and Morse Code and was standard issue in all British Tanks and Armoured vehicles. It was also heavily used in Ground station forms and in Command vehicles.
The Wireless itself was actually two sets in one. The A set and the B set. The A set had a nominal range of 10 miles and the B set just 1 mile. The B set enabled communication between moving Vehicles. Intercom was used for comms within the vehicle.
The example shown here is mounted in one of the group’s Jeeps in the role of a Battalion Command Vehicle and is being used in conjunction with the Hi Power Amplifier, which could increase the Wireless’ range to a theoretical 45 miles.
Tuning of the Aerial was carried out using the Variometer and power was provided by the seperate Power Supply Unit (PSU) connected to two 12 volt Batteries. 

The 22 Set was a general purpose combined transmitter/receiver designed as a replacement for the 19 set and was primarily intended as a vehicle station, often mounted in Jeeps and other Wireless Vehicles - particularly by British Airborne Forces. Like the 19 set, the transmitter/receiver is contained in a case of similar size and has a seperate PSU. They are connected via integral rubber power cables and “male and female” plugs. The same fittings are used for connecting Headsets and Microphones. Unlike the 19 set, the top of the case is fitted with a set of carrying straps enabling it to be man packed if required. The set was also used as a ground station and was even mounted in a variety of Handcarts and used by Beach groups during amphibious operations. Range was approximately 10 miles although this could be increased to 20 miles with the 12 foot Aerial. 

The No 62 set was another General purpose Transceiver and was designed as a replacement for the 22 set. It was considerably lighter than the 19 and 22 sets and was again primarily designed as a vehicle mounted station. However its weight made it ideal for use as a manpacked ground station aswell. Range was approximately 15 miles but could be increased to 25 with the use of the extended 32 foot aerial. The Wireless was only issued from 1944/45 onwards. An interesting feature is that the it would float and could even support another 20 lbs of equipment on top. 

The R109 Reception set was a general purpose receiver for ground and vehicle stations normally used in conjunction with the WS76. The set and a Loudspeaker was built into a single case which also contained a set of spare valves. 

The old adage that an Army marches on its stomach is just as true now as it always has been. The Infantry soldier in 1944/45 was well served via an excellent, well organised logistical supply train and a Senior Officer class that knew the importance of ensuring the men were well fed and supplied - and it’s importance in terms of maintaining morale.
In terms of personal utensils, each man carried a small personal cooker and Heating tablets which he could use to heat food and/or brew up when in forward positions. Every man carried an enamelled mug, usually on the flap of the small pack and inside the pack, two mess tins, one slightly larger than the other. These were used to serve food into and could be heated on the personal stove or larger section petrol cookers which were often carried in vehicles.
Another common heating/cooking method was to use a “Benghazi burner” which was an improvised heater using two empty biscuit tins. One was filled with sand soaked in petrol and set alight whilst another was placed on top filled with water/tea which quickly boiled, ready for use. Finally every man was issued with a Knife, Fork and Spoon set and a general purpose Jack Knife which featured a cutting blade and a Marlon spike which was ideal for piercing holes in tins. However, many regularly retained just the spoon and Jack Knife and dispensed with everything else. In the field, the men tended to eat as a Section when possible, with everyone taking turns as the designated cook whilst others either “stood to” on their weapons or carried out other critical tasks when out of action. 

The most basic Ration issue was the 24 Hour Ration pack, a small waxed box containing sufficient items such as Biscuits, meat extract, chocolate, boiled sweets, tea, sugar, toilet paper, etc, to keep a man going for 24 hours until such time as more substantial supplies could be brought forward. They were generally held inside the Mess tin, carried in the small pack. An Assault version was also issued for Operations such as the D Day landings - two being issued to each man. The boxes were issued to troops sealed with strong tape and were waxed to keep the contents dry. This was particularly important during amphibious operations - or for assault river crossings such as the Seine and the Rhine rivers. In both instances, the early waves were issued with the boxes for use until follow up units could reach them on the other side.
British forces were also issued small tins of Emergency Rations - Fortified Chocolate or Horlicks tablets - which were only to be consumed on the orders of an Officer. These were only to be used in situations where all other options had been exhausted. Canadian troops also had their equivalent “Mess tin” ration and Emergency ration tin, both of which are pictured here. 

The Composite Ration (Compo) was the staple diet for the men in the line. Whilst locally sourced foods such as eggs/bread/poultry may at times become available/liberated locally, the Compo ration remained the core British/Canadian food source. It was issued in a sturdy wooden crate and there were 7 different menu options, A - G.

This maintained a degree of variety and provided a different menu of food for each day of the week. The crates provided sufficient tinned food to supply up to 14 men for 1 day and each contained up to 45 different items In various multiples. They all contained a combination of Biscuits (as a substitute for Bread), tinned Meat and Vegetables (M&V), Steak and Kidney pudding, Tinned Bacon,Tinned Hams, Tinned Fish, Tinned Cheese, Sweet Puddings, Tinned Fruit, Jams, Margerine, Oatmeal blocks, Tea, Condensed Milk, Chocolate, Sweets, Cigarettes, Matches, etc. 

They were designed to provide each man with a Calorific value of 4,000 calories per day.
The Compo rations were actually quite popular with the troops and the different variety provided by the various Menu options helped to alleviate any monotony the troops might experience. Of course, as soon as fresh food was available it was preferred, but the Compo ration served its purpose and maintained a high quality of nutrition and calorific value.

Whenever possible, Battalion cooks would prepare hot meals from fresh produce. It was clearly recognised that for men in the line, a hot meal was a major contributor to the maintenance of good morale - alongside the other key contributor - Sleep.
For those in forward positions, if it was possible, hot food could be moved up through the use of various types of “Hot Box” or insulated Flasks. The example Hot Box here contains 3 internal containers which could be used to seperate different food stuffs. One of the containers is shown in the photo sitting on top of the insulated box. Such pre prepared hot food stuffs were a welcome supplement to the Compo Ration and were certainly employed whenever possible such as when units were moved out of the line and into the rear rest areas. 

As a part of the Compo ration, there were a number of small tins issued which contained a variety of consumables such as Chocolate, Boiled Sweets and Cigarettes. These were often stowed away in the Small pack or carried in the Battledress, immediately available for use.
Cigarettes were widely issued with 50 in each Compo ration crate for distribution amongst the men. Smoking was almost universal at the time and was another recognised factor in the maintenance of the men’s morale.
The selection here shows the commonest types found Which include the Chocolate and Boiled Sweets tin (large), Cigarettes, Boiled Sweets, Boiled Sweets Salt and Matches, Special Flying ration, Water sterilising tin and Emergency ration tin. 

Drinking water was another obvious commodity that had to be supplied to the troops. In addition it was also required for cooking and for washing, so large quantities were needed. Generally it was supplied via Water bowsers and bowser trailers and required sterilisation/treatment before being used to Drink. Testing and approval for issue was carried out by unit Medical Officers. It was usually decanted into more practical containers for forward areas and a selection are shown here. Specially designated 5  gallon Jerrycans were commonly used and were stamped “WATER” and marked in white to avoid them being used for any other liquids.
The ubiquitous 2 gallon can was also commonly used and again clearly marked. 

Also shown here is the standard British/Canadian Water bottle carried by each man together with the standard enamelled mug. 

One of the most commonly seen pieces of Medical equipment was the various types of Medical Dressing bags which were carried by the Battalion Stretcher Bearers and Medical personnel. They generally contained different types of First Aid items including various Dressings of different size and for different types of Battlefield injury.
A Surgical Satchel version of similar size and type contained additional Medical items for more advanced needs and contained among other things Touniquets, Splints, Basic Medical Instruments, Morphine Ampoules, Dressings, etc. 

These Satchels were basically equipped to perform one key function - to arrest bleeding and stabilise the Casualty. In other words, Save Life - at least long enough for the Casualty to be safely evacuated to receive more extensive treatment. 

The most basic means of getting the Casualty off the field was the Stretcher and it took a minimum of two men to do this. Often they would use auxiliary stretcher straps to redistribute weight thru the shoulders. Carrying these together with the various Medical satchels took a lot of strength and effort. Being a Stretcher Bearer was no mean feat. 

 British and Canadian forces made use of a series of larger Panniers which were made from Whicker and covered in a waterproofed canvas. They contained a much larger selection of medical equipment as compared to the satchels and tended to be seen further back in the Medical treatment chain and at Field Hospitals and with Field Ambulances. Each had a specific use, the most widely seen being the Field Medical pannier, the Field Surgical pannier and the Field Dental pannier. As the names suggest they contained equipment appropriate to their function.
There were other panniers of a similar nature which were used for storage of blood and blood plasma products.
Of similar appearance but smaller than the large Field Panniers was the Nursing Orderly Pannier.
An even smaller, more portable Whicker/canvas box which was in common use was the Regimental Pannier and this was carried by Medical Officers in more forward areas. Again it contained a combination of Medical equipment to administer first aid and immediate life saving actions. 

All the various Satchels, Panniers and Chests, contained a variety of Medical equipment, Surgical tools and an assortment of different Field dressings and Bandages.
Shown here are an assortment of this equipment including the First Field Dressing (carried by every man),the larger Shell Dressing, the Mine Dressing, Burns Dressing, standard Bandages, Cramer wire splint and Elastoplast and Plaster Cast Tins.
Also shown here is a selection of Surgical instruments ranging from basic items carried by Battalion medical staff, up to Theatre type instruments including Surgical dishes and trays, Hypodermic Syringes, Plasma infusion kit, etc. 

Alongside the larger Whicker panniers, Field Ambulances and larger Ambulance vehicles, carried large wooden chests and lockers - which tended to carry some of the larger Surgical and Medical items. Examples being, Plasma Bottles and apparatus, Blood pressure gauges, Sterilisers, Operating instruments, Kidney dishes, Suture sets, Anastesia equipment, etc.  

Men brought to the Field Ambulance could be operated on in situ and they could cope with up to 300 casualties per day before reaching overload and Medical staff exhaustion. The intense nature of the fighting in Normandy meant that an Infantry battalion could certainly suffer 150/200 casualties in a days fighting - so Medical services were always working at full stretch. The professionalism and success of Allied Medical services during WW2 was remarkably high and a Battlefield casualty had a very high chance of survival if he was reached quickly and the necessary care administered. 

The Ambulance Jeep was a British/Canadian modification carried out to the standard Willys/Ford Jeep. The modification saw a tubular framework fitted to the body tub, on which Stretchers were placed. In this version two stretchers have been added on top. If needed a further stretcher could be carried on the lower passenger side - and in extreme circumstances another could be placed and secured across the bonnet. In this example the lower stretcher has been dispensed with to accommodate space for “walking wounded” casualties. As was common practice, the Jeep’s spare wheel has been removed to accommodate the lower stretcher when in use. The vehicle is also clearly marked as a Medical vehicle with the addition of prominent red crosses.
When in action the Jeep would operate as a battlefield ambulance, taking casualties direct to the Regimental Aid Post. It would be crewed by Stretcher Bearers/Medical orderlies - one driver and another keeping an eye on the casualties during the run in, possibly administering   emergency Blood Plasma infusions.The object was to keep the man alive long enough to ensure he could receive more extensive treatment.
The Group holds two of these vehicles - both owned by Kev Smart. 

This representation of an RAMC Officer, shows a number of typical items carried and worn by Medical Personnel in the field.
Stretcher Bearers, Orderlies and Medical Officers all did their utmost to identify themselves as non combatants and under the protection of the International Red Cross.
However, whilst all sides in Europe made significant effort to respect each others “Medics”, it could be a very dangerous occupation. Moving around on the Battlefield in the midst of the fighting - often in full view of the enemy - could easily result in personal injury or death to those trying to save lives.In this instance the Lieutenant is wearing a Red Cross armband and has also attached a large Red Cross to his personal set of Body Armour. The set consisted of canvas covered steel plates attached to a webbing yoke. The plates covered the upper chest and lower abdomen aswell as the lower back.

He carries a large Medical water flask over his right shoulder and a Medical Satchel containing various Dressings and First Aid equipment, on his left. He also carries scissors in a top pocket of his Denim Jacket, in order to access them quickly to cut away uniform or indeed human tissue to access and begin treating the casualty’s wounds.
Of note is the fact that he also carries a Revolver for his own personal protection. Whilst carrying arms as a non combatant was generally prohibited, many carried a Pistol. There were examples of captured/wounded German Grenadiers from 12th SS Panzer, shooting British and Canadian Medics whilst they were attempting to treat them - Hence the need to take precautions.