*British, WW2, Royal Artillery Battle Dress Blouse, Rank Major, Unmarked, 1937 Pattern, Private Purchase, Size 7*
This is a Royal Artillery Officer’s Battledress Jacket for a Major, made of khaki wool. It is a single-breasted, short jacket with an open collar. Officers were allowed to tailor their collars to wear a collared shirt and tie, as seen with this example. The shoulder straps are fitted with cloth shoulder titles for the Royal Artillery and Crown shoulder pips indicating the rank of Major, along with the British Army EIIR War Office Controlled Units Formation Sign on each arm. The jacket features a lower belt with a plated buckle, pleated chest pockets with hidden button flaps, internal lining, concealed internal pockets, and three belt loops for trousers (removed in the austerity 1940 pattern). The buttons are plastic, suggesting repairs or possible private tailoring/purchase, as was common among officers, which explains the lack of label. There are also repair marks on the integral belt and lining. The blouse is estimated to be a size 7.
The 1937 pattern battledress, with a fly front, pleated pockets with concealed buttons, and an unlined collar, was the first pattern to be introduced, replacing the earlier Service Dress uniform in 1938. It was worn during the first two years of World War II, including the Phoney War, the Battle of France, and the Dunkirk evacuation, before being replaced by the 1940 pattern later that summer. Despite this, the 1937 pattern continued to see limited use throughout the rest of the war. The unlined collar jackets were particularly favored by officers who wanted to wear them open with a shirt and tie, as they were considered to look smarter than those with lined collars. The 1940 pattern, which preceded the 1940 Austerity Battle Dress Pattern introduced in 1942, featured a lined collar and a slightly more tailored fit but retained the fly front and pleated pockets with concealed buttons from the original 1937 design.
*Condition*
This likely WW2, undated jacket is well made, it is in good condition given probable age and service and has some moth damage. Buttons are plastic, there are repair marks to the integral belt and the lining. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAOOXAHO_5441177849
