Hello, I bought this battledress a few days ago, and I need some advice on it. The label indicates a size 10, is it useful to measure the jacket in order to know if the label matches the jacket? Do you think it's an Original ww2 BD or not? Are there some things that don't match with a good p37 jacket? I think it's an Original one, but maybe the buttons have been changed, to a p40 style? I also think that the label matches with the jacket because it is sewed in the same way (color of stitching) as the inside of the breast pouches. I can't see any WD marking, is this common for a p37 jacket? Maybe it has been gone during the years? Besides the official lable, their is also a little lable with a number on it that is stitched on the back of the same breast pouch of the official label. See pictures... Any comment= useful comment thanks a lot
Looks a good early one to me (unlined collar is up to mid 1940 from memory) - the waist band seems to have been modified at the back, I think letting it out a bit for a bigger waist and the neck hooks removed. I don't think any of the reproductions use the calico type label they seem to use the more common later linen type so that's another positive. Cheers Alistair
Hi Mate, Yes, it's genuine. It's a Battledress Blouse, Serge, indicating it was made prior to mid 1942. This particular one appears to have been the later version of the Blouses, Serge in that it originally would have had a collar liner in it. It would appear that this was 'faced' with more serge and the collar hooks removed. A nice serge pattern blouse with the paper label, which is the rare bit to have still in it. The buttons are VERY late war green plastic type.
I'm not sure the collar has been faced, it looks to me more like an early unlined collar one. Alistair
Indeed, and the lined collar type P40 was introduced until 1940, and unlike what combover posted, it was only the austerity version of the P40 which was introduced in autumn 1942.
I would suggest that because the hooks and eyes have been removed, which was only permitted by default for a very short time period, that this was altered then. Bond, could you calrify why you think I'm wrong? I don't understand what you've written.
Changes in patterns on the production lines could throw up the odd short lived anomalies. Also the patterns remained with the manufacturers who sometimes used them during and after the war. Whilst the British were 'uming and erring' over open collared BD patterns, continental Armies needed uniforms. I know that at least one West Yorkshire factory produced '39 pattern post war, I believe on British wartime contracts however supplied as foreign aid and paid for by the US. Production for Allies seems not have had to conform to exact WD patterns and inspections - I have seen many, often with WD labels over-stamped in red with a new date/serial. It is a long tradition that anything non-standard or otherwise odd should be hived off to allies rather than spoil the neat shelves of the British QM. There seems to be a fair amount of all manner of British made uniform and kit with minor oddities finding its way back here from continental sources for the collector and re-enactment markets - especially wartime patterns with post war buttons/fittings. Currently it seems to be from Denmark although Belgium, Netherlands and Greece have turned up stuff since the 1980's. Some, of course, are accompanied by assurances of being found in barns undisturbed since 1944...
BD serge was stopped in 1940 when 1940 pattern was introduced, which continued until autumn 1942 when the austerity version of 1940 pattern was introduced. This is based in the changes of nomenclature on the labels. 1940 pattern was used on the labels until wars end even though the pre autumn 42 version looks more like BD serge than the post 42 austerity version which is the one most people think of when talking about 40 pattern. The original 1940 pattern has covered buttons etc just like BD serge but has a lined collar and a few other minor variations such as higher pockets etc... In only one case I have seen a manufacturer use 1942 pattern on the label for the Austerity version of 1940 pattern but in all other cases they continued to call it 1940 pattern. I hope this makes sense now?
