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Original Early WW2 British Army Denim Battledress Bloue (2)
SOLD
Code: 50915
An original first pattern British Army Denim Battledress blouse in good condition.
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. It closely followed the design of the Battledress introduced in 1940 but was made from denim and had removable buttons.
This jacket is an early issue example which was only made prior to 1942 when it was superseded by the austerity pattern. The biggest giveaway of a first pattern jacket is the pleated chest pockets. This example also has the correct early wire buckle as used in the first part of the Second World War.
The jacket no longer has its original issue label but there is evidence of where it once was. This can clearly be seen inside the jacket as a rectangle and the fact that it is missing is very common on original denim items as they were heavily laundered.
The jacket is a small to medium size and when laid flat measures -
Chest - 21 1/2"
Waist - 17"
Inside arm - 18"
Outside arm - 23 1/2"
Shoulders - 17"
Length at back - 21 1/2"
The condition of the jacket is good as can be seen in the pictures. Whilst it shows some signs of wear and was clearly issued it is still in very good condition overall. The only slight flaws I can find are a couple of nicks to the right sleeve where a rank chevron has most likely been removed and one of the brass hooks that fasten the collar has been removed, although this is not uncommon to find. The tab which holds the waist buckle on has also lost some of its stitched as illustrated in the pictures. It still functions fine currently and could easily be shored up with a couple of stitches.
Altogether a nice early battledress jacket which is of guaranteed wartime manufacture.
