Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

British WWII Tents


Gijoe

Recommended Posts

Hello

Which tents used the british Army in the Great War ?

In reality not into reenactors phantasie !

Are there pictures ?

I saw only one picture with a tent. That was a white canvas two man bell tent. I think that was an officers tent.

Thanks and a happy new year

Link to comment
Share on other sites

White 5 men Bell tents.

The same like our "phantasie" re-encators group is using...

I have pics, but...

well,

i will see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am to weak to say no...

I hope you stop judging people all thje same...

This are our living history tents.

post-23-1104514133.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The reall stuff, or not?

post-23-1104514354.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And even camouflaged !!!

post-23-1104514487.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for response

Great pics.

Nothing against reenactors.

Im also one.

Some Reenactors say the smal WWII pulp tent gave it already in WWI ???

I personal not believ that.

From wher have your group the Pulpe tents ?

Gijoe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The British Army used several styles of tent, and the sizes are given in Imperial units. (you can translate them to metric at your leisure).

the 20 foot diameter bell tent housed either

1 General, Colonel, or C.O.

3 Other Officers

4 Warrant Officers

7 Serjents

15 men (European) or 18 Native troops

Ridge tents (G.S. tents India) came in a range of sizes

160 Pounder( Lbs) = 22' foot x 16' foot

80 Lbr = 16' x 10'

40 Lbr = 12' x 10'

21 Lbr = 9!/2' x 7'

Officer's = 14' x 9'

Simple two mqn shelter tents and single sided Bivouacs (Bivvies) were also used.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You still can buy the tents in the UK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for great Infos.

"18 man natives" closley

I look for Informations , pics, over the small 2 men tents.

I do not have space for a large tent.

Was this 1800s or CW Styl white canvas Wedge Tentes ?

Gijoe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some Reenactors say the smal WWII pulp tent gave it already in WWI ???

I personal not believ that.

From what I've been told (but I've not seen any evidence to support this) the 2 man bivi was introduced late in WWI. The general rule of thumb (again, from what I've been told) the WWI bivi was khaki in colour, but didn't have a fly net. The WWII item was green and was fitted with the fly net.

Although the bell tent is completely correct for WWI, I use a khaki 2 man bivi simply because I can't get a bell tent into my car.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi

Although small two man shelter type tents made from ground sheets or blankets fastened together are mentioned in the "Field Service Pocket Book" it is clear that these would only be to be used in hot climates like India.

If you have a limited budget or space then a small two man Ridge type (American Civil war, wall tent) tent made from white natural fibre, with natural fibre rope would be an acceptable compromise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean this Typ tents:

Bivie Tent

I have definitly now space

But, i think i buy a White Canvas tent. Looks more WWI Style.

I found a britisch 1810 wedge tent for 205 $

1810 Wedge Tent

Ore the CW Wedge Tents starting from 120$

CW Tents

The Two Groundsheet Bivaque is another alternative.

perhaps a bit tigthly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would those Bell tents be the same type as used in the Boer war? I am curious because my Grandfather and his brother hauled one 100 miles to their homestead, from which I write this, in 1906. If one won't fit in a car, how in heck did they get it here on their backs? I know men were men back then, but Granddad was a 44 year old, 100 pound Cornishman with miner's lung, how much could he carry?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

R Pope,

The Circular tents were carried in a Valise MKII which was 3ft 8inX 2Ft 6in. The Pole MKII was 11ft 10in and in two pieces, the pole MK III was 9ft 9in and also in two pieces. WWI were the same as Boer era Bell tents except the MKIV was used in the Boer War which had 24 bracing lines-The MK V used in WWI had 26 Bracing lines--no difference in weight.

GIjoe

The main tentage on inventory in 1915 and throughout the war were:

Circular, Double Linen--with a 10' radius (Bell Tent

Circular, Single Linen--MKV--with a 9' 3/4"radius (Bell Tent)

Circular, Laboratory not used for Bivouacs

Marquee, Hospital-Large--35'X17' not used for Bivouacs.

Marquee, small, double --31'X16' .

Marquee, small, single --31'X16' .

Operating--not used for Bivouacs.

Shelter, MKI---Two sheets, early versions were 8' 6" in length and later reduced to 6' with two 4' ash poles. Two man tent early in its existance (circa 1862 LoC 443) was called a Tent d'abri later MKI (Oct 1908 LoC 14290). Usually made of white duck. The term Tent d'Abri later became to mean a tent made up with field expediant items such as groundsheets and blankets.

Shelter, MKII---Introduced in Nov 1914 (LoC 16936) was 6"long by 4"high. Two man--did not disassemble was open at one end and closed by flaps at the other. First ones were white cotton duck but later changed to Khaki--Khaki ones dated 1916 are encountered. This was issued with two weather lines, 6 loop lines, two poles made of ash and 4' high (Same as the MKI), 7 small pins (Wood-13") and 1 tent mallet. The MKI came with the same equipment list but came in two sheets and disassembled.

Store Tent--not used for Bivouacs.

Thing you should keep in mind is that none of the tents were issued at the unit level for fighting troops (regimental, Battalion, or battery) as part of the mobilization stores. This included the shelters. They were not carried by the soldier nor carried in the Battalion transport. These were only issued as needed in rear areas.

Joe Sweeney

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many thanks

thats great.

Particulary the Infos about the shelters.

There are pictures of shelters MkI & II?

Survived some ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a picture of a 1916 dated MKII. Khaki duck.

Comes from a book called "Field Equipment of the Infantry 14-45" by Robert Fisch.

This shelter is part of his personal collection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a photo of what I believe to be a Khaki MKI shelter.

The two sheets buttoned over the ridge (no ridge pole). Buttons are listed as either being made of horn or wood. The shelter next to this one clearly shows the buttoned sheets.

There was also a shelter RE in inventory and introduced with LoC 16937. It appears to be the nearly the same as the MKII shelter but equiped with 12 iron pins instead of 7 wood pins.

Joe Sweeney

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Here the Replica MKII.

Developed troug your Infos, a bit "Reenactors Phantasie", and the practical expirience of the tent maker.

ttent.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Gentlemen,

If you are looking for nice reproduction bell tents there are two places I know of that sell them:

www.tentsmiths.com

and

www.pantherprimitives.com

They aren't cheap and they are a pain to move around, but they are available.

On a slightly different note, I have seen period photos of what look to be wooden floors in the bell tents. Does anyone have any insight on that? Or Stoves in the tents for that matter.

Thanks!

Regards,

Jim Higginbottom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

are we talking about cival war sibley tents?

does anyone know if the u.s. army was still using sibley tents in wwI?

I notice a lot of pyramid tents in the training camp photos.

does anyone know when these came out?

thanks

BB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pyramide Tents came before WWI. Thefore the US Army used colonial bell tents, like the brits.

I saw a few post 1910 Photos with Bell tents, but most period Photos shows Pyramide tents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pyramide Tents came before WWI. Thefore the US Army used colonial bell tents, like the brits.

I saw a few post 1910 Photos with Bell tents, but most period Photos shows Pyramide tents.

found a mess of pics on the fsi website

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/fsaallquery.html

type in "army tents ' or colorado nation guard, and increase the counter to 1000.

theres all kinds of panoramic camp pics,

its interesting that you see both white, and green sibleys, and white and green pyramids

I know the wwII pyramid was called the M-1934.

did the early pyramid have name? and a date?

BB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

found a mess of pics on the fsi website

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/fsaallquery.html

type in "army tents ' or colorado nation guard, and increase the counter to 1000.

theres all kinds of panoramic camp pics,

its interesting that you see both white, and green sibleys, and white and green pyramids

I know the wwII pyramid was called the M-1934.

did the early pyramid have name? and a date?

BB

this link works better

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSom...eriod=1900-1929

BB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...