WW2 US soldiers with kukri.

S

spiraltwista

Joined
Nov 29, 2002
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I am guessing this is one for the cantina?

Some of you may have seen these before...

WW2 CBI theatre GIs with kukri.

The famous Chin Rangers OSS 101 attachment, Father Stuart a missionary on a mission.;) with Brit/Indian/OSS issue style mk.2/m.43 style kukri.

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Merrils Mauraders. with Brit/Indian/OSS issue style mk.2/m.43 style kukri.


usboys-MeRrILS-MAR-BURMA.jpg








101st Airborne with blackend kukri.

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Reputedly Bengal/Assam Railway unit. Soldier with traditional kukri .

{Which I was under the Impressian was Brit/Indian unit.} but sargents strips are clearly American, Ones wearing a Brit Hat though, Are those dog tags on the kukri man English or US?

Perhaps soldiers from varied units?




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& the following is the mad Brit Commander Bloomer of Fleet Air Arm.

Think he liked a bit of war? Definatly jungle happy from the look of it!


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Spiral
 
What has the soldier by the train attached the khuk sheath to?
His pants button?


munk
 
munk said:
What has the soldier by the train attached the khuk sheath to?
His pants button?


munk
Click to expand...

It looks like he has a web belt on. He's pretty thin so it kinda blends into his pants.
 
OK. I see it now. I wonder how well you can hike with a kukri there? I never tried it out front. Have to soon. I'd think it would split your crotch.



munk
 
Looks like it might be attached via scabbard loops to his belt? not sure though, But I guess thats the reason 90% of antique scabbards have had the loops & buttons torn off.

if you wear it at front jammed through belt you have to twist it horizontaly for comfort if you walk uphill, sides & rear are much easier , IMHO Rears the easyist doesnt as get caught on bushes etc.

Spiral

Spiral
 
spiraltwista said:
...Are those dog tags on the kukri man English or US?
Click to expand...

Brits wear round dog tags..... those look like American ones to me. these are british issue
8d_1.JPG

american M1940 notched tag.
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Thanks Kronkrew, Seems hes is American then. The tags round his neck seem to have the same indentation near the base, as the one you illustrate.

I guess his belt probably is US issue as well. {Although its possible some Brits woud have US belts.}

I think the Brits used more than one kind of dog tag in WW2 perhaps ? I have seen leather octaganal & round ones as well, I am sure. Are the Brit one pictured current issue perhaps?

Spiral
 
yup, they're current british ones from ebay, here's a pic of ww2 type, note matching sn & name on octagonal & round ones, i think they were issued as a set & one of them was left on the body while the other was retreived for the records. they tried aluminum in ww1 & found it corroded to illegibility rather fast, they used fibre ones for a while too. brass i guess was expensive & reserved for shells.
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here's an interesting website: Linky
 
Thankyou, glad you found it intresting, not many people seem to realise American trrops carried kukri. {Or that the OSS issued it.}

Spiral
 
if you wear it at front jammed through belt you have to twist it horizontaly for comfort if you walk uphill, sides & rear are much easier , IMHO Rears the easyist doesnt as get caught on bushes etc. Spiral


yes, it would have to go horizontal along the waist line. Last year or so I've been pushing them from the side to the side-rear. Still experimenting; different sheaths and khuks hold their own ways.


munk
 
Hi Spiral:

My Dad fought in the CBI Campaine. US Army Cops of Engineers. Lido-Burma Road and all. He rarely spoke about it but he did bring back the kukris and dhas that got me interested those types of knives. He also mentioned once he had denge fever and laid in a tent until he pulled through and was only 97 pounds. Also flying over the hump. I wish he had talked more about it.

I have a copy of a letter he sent to my Mother describing what it was like to bring convoys along the Lido-Burma Road and the chinese drivers with no training that went over the steep cliffs and embankments in jeeps and trucks.
 
Hi Steve,

Burma was hard duty,many died of fevers, my father was in the Chindits, he only spoke about it in his last 18 days. I can see why many of them choose not to talk about it, Some wouldnt understand what they did or went through.

cheers,
Spiral
 
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