Hello everyone, I was wondering if someone might be able to help me out. I was curious if commonwealth tankers would have been using the pixie suit in market garden or soon after. Thanks for any info.

Funny but the few books I looked at there was a gap in the photo record between Sep and november 44, maybe all the photographers were on leave
Anyway I would say Yes, they would have been issued as soon as the weather turned cold.

Thre were two distinct reason what any vehicle crew would want to get their hands on Pixie Suits - firstly they were warm and secondly, the design of them would give you a degree of protection against knocks and bumps while the vehicle was moving - or even just the action of climbing in and out of a vehicle...

During Market-Garden I think most still used the standard uniform, but certainly the pixie suits were used as soon as the weathered turned cold.

For instance during the (fierce) battles in the area called the Peel (battles for Overloon, Venray etc.) where British tanks were involved...

Martin

The Tank oversuit was issued for the First time starting in about October 44. There were a number of Commonwealth Formations in Holland at the time and these were issued to them. Despite what it says in the Brayley and ingram and Gordon books on Brit Uniforms the "Pixie" was NOT issued in late 43. Both these books mix up the Denim Tanksuit and the Pixie suit. They claim the Denim was issued in Winter 44 and the Pixie in 43. Photographic evidence supports a reverse of this.
Market garden is a bit early for the Tank oversuit and despite DML's claims regarding their 1/6th Cam Oversuit there is no evidence to support their issue in WW2.
Cheers
Al

Thanks guys, Its a go then. I just want to use up some of the excellent old ultracast crew I have laying around. Thanks again for the info.