This post is a continuation of my introduction regarding items left to me by my parents who inherited them from their parents.......... Amongst these items I have come across 2 Denison Smocks. I am not sure whether these were something my Grandfather had or they were given to my father. I am in need of a little assistance in dating the 2 Denison Smocks, as unfortunatley the dates are no longer visible on the labels. I will tell you what I do know first and then would kindly ask if you know anymore information that would help me, then it would be greatly appreciated. I have also attached photos of the two Denison Smocks with this post. Both are 2nd pattern and have buttoned sleeves as opposed to the 1st pattern woollen cuffs. They are both short zipped as well. I do know that the 2nd pattern was introduced in 1944 although there were some available from 1943. I know that this pattern changed again (I think in 1959) and reverted back to the woollen cuff with long zip. So both I guess I can date between 1943 and 1959. One of the smocks has a name tag in the neckline E. Briggs. This smock also has Leiutenant lapel pips which I believe place E. Briggs in the Irish Guards. The label on this smock is so worn it is not visible, and I cannot see any ink markings next the the label. The second smock has a label with shows it to be a Frankenstein make. The date is not visible on this smock, but there are traces of ink markings next to the label. I can only make out an "M" from the ink markings. This smock is also buttoned cuffs with half zip, and has the para wings still attached. The press studs on both smocks appear to be by Newey and are brass. Is anyone able to expand on the information I already have please. Thank you. Keri
The half zip is correct for this type of smock. The green (as opposed to brown) plastic buttons give an indication of the smock being a later manufacture item. The 'M' stamp is the British WW2 code for 1944, so probably mid-late '44. The pips are probably a later addition as it is clear that whoever had this smock was a Captain, not a Lt. It could be that the other 4 have gone walkabout. Unusual for a Guardsmen to wear one as they technically weren't airborne, but not unheard of.
Hi Thank you so much for that information, it really does help. There is so much out there and as my research into the Denison Smock and in particular the ones I have has only just started, it can, and has been so far a little confusing. I could be wrong about the pips belonging to a Guardsman, again this information I have collected through recent research and at one point thought it may have been the Welsh Guards. Another point of reference indicated that the pips were worn by a Chaplain. Once again thank you for your response and taking the time to reply. Keri
Those pips are bog standard metal pips as worn by most regiments, but I find it unusual to see metal pips worn on a smock. Para officers normally wore cloth pips with pale blue backing on smocks. As far as Guards officers went, until about 1960, there were no regular officers in the Parachute Regiment (except perhaps quartermasters); all were seconded from their parent regiments and often continued to wear their own regimental insignia if it suited them; this would include seconded Guards officers. Chris
It might be worth your while getting a copy of this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Denison-Bruce-Wilson/dp/1626201846/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384182740&sr=1-1&keywords=denison All the bst
I would say that's at least a possibility, those labels look a wee bit too new and would seem to indicate a very recent date of manufacture. Also, I'm not sure that you'd get someone wearing metal pips on what was essentially 'working' dress. Slip-ons would be more the norm here. It certainly has a re-enactor feel to it. If it is a reproduction then it looks, at least from these few pics, to be a good one! Pete
