Greek infantry, 1940

[valiant]

Hi Guys,

Is there anyone out there who may be able to shed light onto the back view of the bandoliers that this chap is wearing, please? I am after any possible details of fastens, buckles, etc.

I am currently working on a bust of this, but have ground to a halt due to lack of info!

Thanks in anticipation,

 

[billyturnip]

I'm on it Steve but no luck so far, I've got a couple of other avenues to try yet though. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[valiant]

Cheers Roger - I somehow thought you may! No probs, if not, I'll have to make an educated guess, otherwise!

 

[mick3272]

Steve,
Have you tried shouting Abouuuut Turn, see if that works. Of course it will have to be said in Italian as he wont understand.

On a more serious note try Dan Morton he is a mind of information on this sort of stuff I have looked through the stuff he has posted but no luck.
Mick

 

[valiant]

Cheers Mick - although if I shouted "about turn" in Italian, he may still not understand, as he is Greek.....!

 

[mick3272]

Cheers Mick - although if I shouted "about turn" in Italian, he may still not understand, as he is Greek.....!

FFFFFFFFFFF Thats why I couldnt find it when I have been looking

 

[billyturnip]

Maybe it's not a bandolier as such, just the rounds linked together.

 

[valiant]

I'd wondered if it was a belt from an HMG....?

 

[billyturnip]

I'd wondered if it was a belt from an HMG....?

That also crossed my mind.

 

[valiant]

I could go for that - looped around his neck, with the loose ends tucked in the waistbelt.....sounds like a plan!

Something along the lines of this....

 

[billyturnip]

From wikipedia, machine guns used by Greece during WWII....

Machine guns
Chauchat M1915 Light Machine Gun (France)
Hotchkiss M1922 Light Machine Gun (France)
Hotchkiss M1914 Heavy Machine Gun (France)
Hotchkiss M1926 Heavy Machine Gun (France-Greece)
Saint Etienne M1907/16 Heavy Machine Gun (France)
Schwarzlose Heavy Machine Gun (Austria)
Bren Light machine gun (after 1942) (UK)

 

[valiant]

Thanks for that, Roger - I suppose also, captured Italian ones, too?

 

[Trex]

Steve, I've been trying to find something useful for you, but had no luck.
I found some pictures of Greek guerilla fighters of the 40s with such "ammo belts".
I hope they are helpful and I'll keep looking for pictures with a back view of such equipment.

 

[1969]

That's definitely linked ammunition for light or heavy Mg Steve, which one I am not sure but most of the French ones used clips rather than belts. Probably can get away with depicting them as generic really as the artist has probably done.

Cheers
Steve

 

[billyturnip]

Like Trex I've had no luck finding any photo's of Greek infantrymen wearing ammunition like in the illustration.

Found some great pics of Cretan Gendarmerie though.

Just in case you feel the urge.

 

[valiant]

Steve, Trex and Roger - thanks for your input, guys. I could also assume that they could be in a locally made cloth bandolier..? I shall probably go for a "best guess" and suffer the criticism!!

Ill post some pics once Ive made sufficient progress - thanks again, chaps!

 

[Nap]

This might confuse it but are they perhaps these

Greek Mannlicher pouches WW2 era. Not sure who used the black ones though, because normally are brown I believe

Nap

 

[valiant]

Cheers Kev - it was the bandolier/ammo belts I was questioning, but thanks for the info and pics. Yes, they were Mannlicher type pouches at this time - or anything else that came by!

 

[Nap]

Cheers Kev - it was the bandolier/ammo belts I was questioning, but thanks for the info and pics. Yes, they were Mannlicher type pouches at this time - or anything else that came by!

SORRY Steve ..should have read it properly !

Looking forward to seeing this progress

Nap