page_title: Denison smock
section_title: Variations
hierarchical_section_title: Denison smock / Development / Variations
caption_attribution_description: The Commanding Officers of 21st Army Group: The first meeting on French soil of General Montgomery (centre) with his Army Commanders, General Omar N Bradley (left) and Lt General Miles C Dempsey (right).
context_page_description: The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth airborne units, to wear over their Battle Dress uniform during the Second World War.
  The smock was initially worn over the paratrooper's webbing equipment, but under his parachute pack and harness, as its primary purpose was to prevent the wearer's equipment from snagging while emplaned or during a jump. It was equally useful for camouflage and as a windproof garment that provided a method of carrying ammunition or equipment. Contemporary photographs show that airborne troops preferred to wear the smocks under their webbing once they had landed.
context_section_description: Denisons of either pattern issued to officers had woollen collar linings. By the time of the D-Day airdrops, some officers had had their jackets modified with a full length zip by their personal tailors, since this was not available on the issue item. Wartime photographs show that some other ranks had their smocks serviced the same way by the unit tailor. The zip was most commonly removed from the 1942 Parachutist's Oversmock, a longer, sleeveless, fully zipped jump-jacket, made of a grey-green denim material that was worn under the parachute harness, but over everything else (including the Denison). This Parachutist's Oversmock also featured a tail flap and its sole intention was to prevent the paratroopers equipment from snagging while emplaned or during a jump. It was to be discarded on landing. The oversmock had capacious elasticated pockets on the skirt, intended as a safer way to carry grenades. These pockets were sometimes removed and added to the Denisons as well.
  A sniper's variant of the Denison smock is known, in effect an issue smock with a specialized pocket (approximately 10" x 10") added to the left rear in which could be carried food & water, maps, ammunition, and other small equipment. Modifications were done at the unit level and known examples all vary from one sample to the next.
  High-ranking officers could buy a privately made version of the Denison. Made from a lighter-weight gaberdine material, it had a full zip and a drawcord at the waist and a white wool liner to the collar. Frequently seen worn by General Montgomery and  General 'Boy' Browning, OC Airborne Troops.
  The Royal Marines used a version which had the half zip replaced with buttons and loops for fastening the opening.
  A waterproof Denison in waxed dark green material was also very rarely found during the War.
caption: Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey (right) wearing a modified Denison Parachute Smock - 10 June 1944
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