Denison Smock

The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Commonwealth soldiers to wear over their Battle Dress uniform during the Second World War. The smock was useful as a camouflage garment, as a windproof, and as a method of carrying ammunition or equipment.

The smock was designed by a Major Dennison, appearing in 1941 as the "Airborne Smock Denison Camouflage". An alternative name was the "Smock Denison Parachutist"

The original pattern was replaced in 1944 with a modified design. It was made from a light sand-green coloured denim material hand-painted with dark green and chocolate brown stripe camouflage. The smock was most commonly worn by British and Commonwealth paratroopers, but a modified version was also commonly issued to scouts and snipers in infantry battalions. It was also a popular garment among officers who could acquire them (Company Sergeant Major CC Martin, DCM, MM of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada mentioned in his memoir Battle Diary that senior officers and sergeants major of his battalion wore the Denison universally).

The smock had four external pockets, two on the chest and two below the waist, and two internal pockets on the chest. A "tail" went from the bottom at the back and fastened to the front of the smock - which stopped it riding up when parachuting.

The Denison smock remained on inventory in Commonwealth and other militaries after the Second World War, being popular in Korea. The garment was eventually replaced; in the British Army by the DPM smock, in Canada by a special pattern Airborne smock.

See also

*Smock Windproof Camouflage - a similar piece of equipment