Military Model Scene

Title: Camouflaged Fist
Author: Gareth Scanlon
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-804515-84-6

Camouflage Smocks used by the Infantry Brigades of the 6th Armoured Division in Italy, 1944, a new publication from Helion & Co. A 189-page soft-cover book.
Inspired by his great grandfather, the author was able to identify him in a picture of some 6th Armoured Division troops in Italy in 1944, and his subsequent research has led him down the path of investigating the various elements of uniform worn by the Infantry Brigades of the division as they made their way up through Italy in 1944, and in particular their use of some camouflage smocks made from stocks of Italian M1929 Telo Tenda camouflage capes captured in Naples. Designed as (square) capes which could be worn as a cape, or joined together to create a shelter, in very much the same way as the Germans had the Zeltbahn. The author has tracked down the story of them in use by the infantry brigades associated with the 6th Armoured Division in Italy, and even finding the war diary of a clothing factory in Italy. It was run by the British military, but employed local civilian workers who created two smocks out of each Telo Tenda. Using 3 surviving examples to show they were made to a set design, he has used the evidence of surviving records and examples of the smocks and other equipment to tell and illustrate this interesting story. There is some marvellous examination of some archive photos, as well as a series of modern colour photos showing a variety of uniform combinations as used during the war.
I found this a really interesting read, partly as my own father served in Italy during the war. It also takes us through how the variations in uniform came about as the terrain of the country needed appropriate changes in camouflage clothing to best protect the allied troops. The use of these camouflage smocks is an unusual story within the wider aspects of the Italian campaign, plus other little details such as the mailed fist logo of the 6th AD being worn on uniform epaulettes. As a modeller myself, and with a small militaria collection of my own, the detail in here will interest the historian, the collector and the modeller with the fine detail that features throughout this book. This is one I would definitely recommend.
Thanks to Helion & Co for the review copy.

Robin