After World War Two the rapid advance of communism and associated political instability threatened Great Britain's interests in the Far East. From 1948 until around 1967, troops were deployed throughout the Malaysian region. To equip the British soldier and Commonwealth troops for 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, and to keep up with the rapid innovation of small-arms technology.
Author Biography
Simon Howlett has been researching and collecting British infantry equipment on a non-commercial basis for over 20 years, with particular interest in post-WW2 1950-1960s jungle conflicts and the 1944 pattern equipment. Resident - Hampshire
