Code: 53592
An original 1940 Pattern British Army Battledress Blouse which Belonged to a Sergeant of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
This jacket belonged to Sergeant 6395952 D. Knowless who served in the interwar period as well as throughout the Second World War. He is noted as being a Drummer of the Second Battalion in the early 1930s and served on the North West Frontier. Based on the fact that the jacket is a late-war re-issued example, it is fair to assume that he served throughout WW2.
The jacket started life as a 1940 pattern and was made in late 1940 or 1941. It features a lined collar and the early style 'wire' waist buckle. This, along with the twin inside pockets date this to being an earlier manufactured example. The jacket is a wartime reconditioned example which was returned to the stores depot before being issued again once mended. The clearest evidence of this is the absence of the main label and the addition of a smaller label towards the bottom of the jacket's interior. Other evidence of this process can be found inside the cuffs where they have been partially re-lined (picture 6) and there are also some machine stitched repairs to the front bottom of the jacket as shown in picture 5. There is evidence of where badges were previously fitted to the sleeves although they have long since been removed.
Inside the jacket the reissue label is present, as previously mentioned. It bears the letter 'R' before the War Department arrow and the words 'Contractors No'. There is a War Department acceptance stamp which is surmounted by the letter 'Z' which denotes that the jacket was issued in 1945. The original owner has marked his name in ink in two separate places.
The jacket will fit a 38" - 40" chest depending on desired fit and when laid flat it measures -
Chest - 22 1/2"
Waist - 16 1/2"
Inside arm - 18 3/4"
Outside arm - 24 1/2"
Shoulders - 17 1/2"
Length - 22"
The jacket is in good condition overall and is very wearable. It displays well with only limited signs of age and wear. Please study the pictures and bear in mind that it is a pre-worn military jacket which may have small issues commensurate with age.
A nice original WW2 jacket with some history.
