Product Overview

The camouflaged "Denison Smock," developed by the British Army in late 1941. War-era nomenclature inside the smocks identifies them alternately as “Airborne Smock, Denison Camouflage,”.

The Denison airborne smock was initially issued to members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a clandestine special warfare unit, but became standard issue to British Airborne Forces (including Glider Infantry and Glider Pilots). It also saw use with other units operating in the European Theater of Operation, including the Special Air Service (SAS), Army Commandos and the Royal Marines. Smocks were provided to Commonwealth airborne units such as the Canadian 1st Parachute Battalion, and to the airborne-trained European allied forces in exile (Dutch, Belgians, French, Polish, et al).

The smock was made from loose-fitting, yellowish-sand coloured, heavyweight twill material, allegedly hand-painted with broad, mop like brushes using non-colourfast dyes in broad pea green and dark brown stripes, or "brush-strokes". With use the base colour faded to a sandy buff, and the overlaid shades gained a blended appearance.

The 1st Pattern smock design was replaced in 1944 by a second pattern which had buttoning tabs at the cuffs and brass snap fasteners to stow the tail flap on the back of the jacket when not needed. Other detail differences included reduced length and tube shaped rather than tapered sleeves. In order to make it more wind-proof, the tops of woollen socks were often sewn to the cuffs. The half-length zip fastener on this smock was made of brass. The colours of the 2nd pattern also differed from those of the earlier smocks, the base colour varying from a light to a medium olive combination, with overlying brushstrokes of reddish brown and dark olive green. These colours were thought better suited to the North Western European theatre.

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