British Post-War Jungle Webbing

Book excerpt: After World War Two the rapid advance of communism and associated political instability threatened Great Britain's interest in the Far East. From 1948 until around 1967, troops were deployed throughout the Malaysian region. To equip the British soldier and Commonwealth troops or jungle warfare the 1944 pattern 'jungle' webbing, designed during World War Two, was issued. In the 1960s, the new 1958 pattern equipment was issued to troops serving in Borneo, alongside the existing 1944 pattern set. Both patterns of equipment were unofficially customized and formally modified to meet the needs of individual jungle soldiers and the tough environment, to keep up with the rapid innovation of small-arms technology. This book details the evolution of British post-war jungle webbing equipment and examines the items used specifically during the Malayan Emergency and later, the Borneo Confrontation. Brought together into one reference book, the contents include: Components of post-war 1944 pattern webbing; 1944 pattern equipment modifications; 1944 pattern ancillary webbing items, bayonets and radio packs; Small arms used during the conflicts, and carriage of their ammunition; Special forces bespoke webbing; Typical customization of infantry belt kits; Items comprising the 1958 pattern webbing equipment set