Original 1945 Dated British Army Denim Battledress Blouse - Size 4

Original 1945 Dated British Army Denim Battledress Blouse - Size 4

Code: 52185

£145.00 Approx $183.08, €169
 

An original British Army Denim Battledress Blouse clearly dated 1945 and in a size No.4.

Introduced at the beginning of the Second World War as a replacement for the earlier fatigues issued in the Great War and inter-war periods., the design closely followed the serge Battledress introduced in 1940 but was made from denim and had removable buttons. This is a second pattern or 'austerity' version which does not feature the pleated pockets of the first pattern jacket.

The jacket features a full set of butterscotch coloured revolving shank buttons which are all held in place with the correct brass split rings. At the waist a chrome plated buckle is fitted and is held in place with two green plastic buttons, the same sort as were used on later war battledress. 

Inside the jacket the original label is present and reads 'Overalls Blouses Denim'. It states the maker as 'G. K. O'Conner & Co' of Belfast Below which is the 1945 date and the War Department broad arrow marking. The label states the size as No.5 but this has been over-stamped as with 4 suggesting that the jacket was incorrectly labeled. 

When laid flat the jacket measures -

Chest - 23"
Inside arm - 18"
Outside arm - 24 1/2"
Shoulders - 17"
Length - 22 1/2"

The jacket is in good condition for its age with only limited signs of washing and use. It has clearly been issued but is still very wearable and displays well. This is of course a 75 year old pre owned piece of vintage workwear and therefore may have small issues commensurate with its age.

A nice, hard to find war dated example of a British Army Denim battledress jacket.