Both units wore the standard British Army pattern uniforms 37 and 40 Patterns with Phantom wearing the White P on a black square on the right arm only with standard rank markings.
In warmer climates, such as North Africa and the Italian campaign both units wore KD,Khaki Drill,
Lovat Scouts whilst on over seas obeyed the Kings order of no unit insignia being displayed. However home service ranks did, Officers and men that remained in the UK with Regimental HQ and others serving as instructors, they displayed Lovat Scouts White letters on red back ground, then 52nd Lowland Division badge, Recon stripe then rank etc.
Head gear for the Lovat Scouts is the Balmoral with the ties loose, being dark blue with blue and white check. with the badge displaying "JE SUIS PREST"
Phantom before 1942 the side cape or beret of the previous persons regiment including the cap badge. 1942 onwards the black beret same as the RTR was worn, with the persons previous Regiment cap badge being displayed, so you could have seen a Black beret displaying a Para, RTR, Royal Norfolk's or any Regiment badge provided the individual had served with the unit previously.in the case of L Detachment they wore the SAS/Para wings on their black berets as they served with numbers 1&2 SAS in NW Europe.
Webbing was the standard 37 pattern both Regiments did not have to wear the Full Marching or Musketry webbing order. The Lovat Scouts, wore mainly Mountain equipment and Phantom were mainly vehicle/motorbike bound.
The Lovat Scouts by 1942 were issued the Windproof suit for their mountain training, using the Bergen instead of the standard small or large packs, on returning from Jasper they had to hand back the majority of the US supplied equipment, but many kept the US Mountain packs arctic sleeping bags and US Mountain boots, so it was not unusual to see a Lovat Scout wearing some US equipment!
Footwear is the standard ammo boots for both units.with the Lovat Scouts Mountain boots were issued and supplied in Italy being made by Local Italian cobblers, also the DMS boot was used also for Mountain climbing and whilst on sniper duties.
The unique scouting scope was also standard equipment that was issued to the Lovat Scouts with 48 being issued to the regiment combined with 64 snipers, whos requirements would be Denim uniforms/ tankers overalls for the hot italian weather.Also Denison or 43 pattern windproof smocks for winter months and NW Europe for training instructors in the art of sniping.The windproof was also standard issue to all ranks by winter of 44/45 which included Phantom Patrols.
Weapons
Lovat Scouts, SMLE or No4 as both was used in Italy
For the Sniper early image P14 later No4T with type 32 Scope.
Thompson and Bren guns. Please note the Sten was not used by the Lovat Scouts in Italy, if in a sniper team both would carry ample ball ammunition for the No4T , one of the team would be using either a rifle or machine gun.
Phantom No4T was never used but the Sten was used in large numbers by the Regiment as well as Rifles, Thompsons and Bren Guns.
If you have any questions about uniforms and about purchasing uniforms please contact us as we know that trying to find out what you can buy with sometimes limited funds can be daunting, sometimes people who have have been in this hobby for a while forget , not everyone can get their uniforms and equipment straight away and not all can afford hundreds of pounds at once, so will need time to buy everything that they need, we may also be able to help as well for a while until you can complete collecting your own uniform.
