British Raiders, 1916–18

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Left figure: Private, 12th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, January 1918

He is dressed for a winter daytime patrol in the Arleux area. The hooded snow-camouflage 'boiler suit' was provided by the Royal Army Clothing Department to be worn over the service dress. It featured a draw-string around the face, and could be worn with a white helmet cover. Photographs of various regiments show similar suits being worn, under skeleton equipment ('musketry order'), from 1917 onward.

Center figure: Officer, 1/8th (Irish) Bn, The King's Regiment ( Liverpool ), April 1916

Photographed after a night raid near Wailly, he has a dark brown private purchase sweater, grey gauntlet gloves, a balaclava, Other Ranks' trousers and puttees; note the slung gas helmet bag. His face is darkened with lamp black. He has a nail-studded trench club tucked into an Other Ranks' web belt, and carries a private purchase Webley-Fosbery .455in revolver. This unusual self-cocking handgun, designed by Col.G.V.Fosbery VC and first produced in 1901, was still carried in small numbers during the war.

Right figure: Private, York and Lancaster Regiment, January 1918

From a photograph of a patrol ready to go out near Roclincourt on 12 January. The issue 'crawling suit' is worn with a separate caped hood with earslits for improved hearing, and gaiters tightened with straps; the respirator is carried on the chest. In addition to the SMLE rifle he carries regulation wire cutters on a wrist loop, and a No.36 ‘Mills bomb'.