WW1 Sniper Smock

WW1 Sniper Smock, exceedingly scarce item. Over 20 years ago we cleared a warehouse which had equipment in from the families army Surplus business which dated back to after the Boer war, amongst all the WW2 stuff we found WW1 08 Webbing, PH gas helmet bags, boots and much more including a bale of these smocks. This is the last one which we have kept back since then along with two others. One has gone to a noted author and expert on sniping, another is in my collection and this is the last one. An identical one of these turned up int he USA many years ago dated 1918. 

It is made from a light cotton, the chest area is shaped to accommodate a gasmask bag and the side slits are conveniently located for 08 webbing ammunition pouches, they would be wrong for 37 pattern webbing.The face veil can be unclipped and thrown back. It is obviously designed for winter use but in common with Major Hesketh-Pritchards WW1 training on sniping it could also be easily dyed or discoloured with mud and dirt for camouflage.

It is grubby and has some stains having spent about 70 years in a dusty damp warehouse before we got them, but the material is still sound.

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