In yesterday's Times supplement I spotted and was intrigued by an offer of a new greatcoat by Messrs. Kent & Curwen. Based very much on the British Army version, it is modeled by David Beckham, and priced at £1200. I struck me that I can't remember ever handing my own greatcoat in when I was de-mobbed at York in early 1947 ....... I certainly was not issued with a civilian version at the time I was given my demob suit. Can anyone find any documentation that lists the clothing that was issued to us at the time ? Ron
I know this doesn't answer your question, Ron, but might be relevant - my Dad was in the RNVR and kept his greatcoat when he was demobbed. My Mum took it to a dressmaker and she made me a winter coat out of it. I remember being proud of the buttons, brass with an anchor imprinted.
This attached illustration from Demob - How was it done? has a list of sorts in the text at the bottom
When I got demobbed in the early 1950s as a National Serviceman,I left with the whole of my uniform.....Best Blue and Working Blue since I was committed to the Reserve which meant annual two weeks at a RAF unit. The only item of personal issue left behind were my Wellington boots which had been essential for aircraft servicing in inclement weather found in winter on airfields.....it was a squadron store issue. I used my Working Blue tunic blouse in my job on power plant maintenance...no overalls supplied in those days....others in the workshop wore their old army gear.The RAF greatcoat was a superb garment in keeping out the elements and essential for guard duties etc. After getting married,we used the greatcoat as an extra eiderdown in winter which were somewhat more colder than hitherto. Alas after leaving home my mother without reference to me,threw my gear out...my Best Blue was in pukka condition with first class buttons that had been given to me by a wartime WAAF neighbour.Later,the wearing of the military greatcoat became the fashion of the young. As regards those demobbed after wartime service,I would think that an overcoat would have been in the allotted civilian dress.A hat was included in the allotment. I remember seeing in the cinema news demobbed personnel trying on their trilbys.I wonder if any chose a bowler or a flat cap. While serving National Service,I bought a beautiful gabardine stone coloured overcoat which I wore outside camp....gabardine certainly was fashionable in those days and the USAF gabardine uniforms always looked far much pleasing to the eye than the serge of our uniforms.