On D-Day the 231st Brigade landed on GOLD beach opposite Le Hamel, where they suffered over 100 casualties on the beach including their Commanding Officer Colonel Nelson Smith wounded and his Second in Command killed. Having consolidated their beach area they moved around behind Le Hamel and took the village before moving on to complete their mission, and reached their ultimate D-Day objective Arromanches by nightfall. This was to be become the site of the all important British artificial harbour known as the Mulberry Harbour.

As early as 1932 the British Army had sought to adopt a new Field Service Dress uniform, which between 1932 and 1939 went through a number of variations before 'The Times' reported on 20th April 1939 that the new Battle-Dress uniform had been formally adopted by the British Army. It was hoped that the new khaki serge Battle-Dress would be issued to the troops by the summer of 1939, however, this did not prevent large numbers of troops within the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) sent to France and Belgium, being still clad in the First World War style 4 pocket tunic.

Following the withdrawal of the BEF from Dunkirk, the design of the 1937 pattern BD, as it was known, was modified to save on material and production time! costs; resulting in the 1940 Utility Pattern Battle-Dress. The two differed only in detail and continued to be worn side by side throughout the remainder of the War.

The British Army Battle-Dress worn by British Infantry units such as the 1st Battalion The Hampshire Regiment pictured here, comprised 1937/1940 pattern khaki serge blouse worn with and buttoned on to at the waist, matching khaki serge trousers. The trousers being gathered in at the ankle by canvas/webbing gaiters over black hob-nailed ankle boots, more commonly known as 'ammunition boots'. Headgear for front line troops invariably consisted of the Mark I steel helmet, which was of the same pattern as that in use in 1918 at the end of the First World War.