St.Lo
The route to St.Lo was long and costly for the 29th Division and it reflected in their appearance. During front line combat standards take a side line in favour of practicality. The constant fighting and patrols took their toll on the issued equipment, in one account from Bob Slaughter he mentions that his M41 Jacket had no buttons left on it by the time he came off the line. Other accounts from veterans tell of how they would turn their jackets inside out in an attempt at camo - the wool lining wouldnt reflect as much.
Artifacts have been dug out of 175th fox holes in recent years showing painted equipment and there is one original M41 jacket found in Normandy which has been brush painted.
Helmet scrim artifacts from 29th positions in Normandy show that 2 colours were used, British 'apple green' and brown. This comes from a complete roll found in a barn and from dug up helmets amazingly with small fragments of scrim intact.
In some videos 29ers have rolled their wools over their leggings in an attempt to cool down.
In conclusion the St.Lo impression uses all the equipment that they landed with apart from the life belt. Assault gas mask bags were still used untill as late as July by those who still had them. The hollywood notion that they were discarded on the beach is false and we have lots of photographic and video evidence of the assault gas mask bag being used in St.Lo. Bags have even been dug out of fox holes in the surrounding fields where the 29th held the line.
The M6 gas mask bag would have been issued to soldiers who needed a new gas mask bag. New replacements coming into the unit would have been issued the M6 gas mask bag.
The impression should be worn out and dirty, focussed on comfort and manouverability. Here are some examples of C-Company's St.Lo impression.
Combat patrols were conducted wearing only weapons and ammo, in the heat the 29ers would open their jackets or even take them off and tuck them round the back of their cartride belt.
The M41 was taken off on some marches due to the heat.
When the high command were not around Uncle Charlies chin strap rule went out the window in favour of comfort on the front line.
In some of the hard weeks of fighting a GI could go a few days without shaving. During inspections of the front it was encouraged to look clean and acceptable however this was not always possible.
The Inside-Out M41
This GI is from a film reel of the 175th and 35th around St.Lo. This man is infact part of the 35th Infantry as the film slate in the video indicates. the 35th worked close with the 29th Division and would have adopted many of the same battlefield ideas. There are many statements and references of the 29th doing this to their jackets but this film reel of the 35th shows it in such good detail.
Roll Up!
A film reel of the 175th showing rolled up wools in St Lo.
Tucked In
The 29th on patrol, the rear man has either his M41 or a rain coat tucked in his belt.
Assault Vest
This footage from St Lo shows a 29er wearing an assault vest making him most likely from the 116th.
Scrim
Isigny Sur Mer: these 2 29ers have scrim in their helmets.
Prisoners
This is a German photograph of 3 29ers who were captured around St.Lo.
Rest Area
Here officers of the 29th review a map, there are lots of variations in kit in this image.
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