British army leather jerkin

[RMR]

Hi guys I have just bought this real minty leather jerkin,broad arrow marked and dated 1944.Who wore them and have i done my brains paying £30 pounds for it.regards Roger

[RMR]

lable sorry about the pic but i'm no David Bailey

[Marc Sherriff]

These were worn by members of the RA, RE, ATS and a number of Armoured and Infantry units.

[RMR]

Thanks again Marc I have an RA BD trousers and cap all i need now is a dummy to put it on.regards Roger

[peter monahan]

They were also issued in small numbers to some Canadian units and were worn by sentries as an added layer of warmth, to be turned back in at the end of one's "stag". My informant, who wore one far too often, he said, said that he and his mates called them 'Twenty Pound Coats' because they were forever being "lost" and flogged off to civilians and twenty quid was what his unit eventually started charging anyone who 'lost' one!

[RMR]

Thanks Peter interesting story,must have gone upto £30 by now then,regards Roger

[Naaficook]

These were worn by members of the RA, RE, ATS and a number of Armoured and Infantry units.

Correction : Members of the ATS didn't (officially) wear these pattern (male) jerkins.... they had their own pattern jerkin.

ATS (2nd-pattern) jerkins are :
- narrower in the arm-inset,
- buttoned up the "female side"
- are labelled "jerkins, leather A.T.S."

ATS (1st-pattern) jerkins are :
- narrower in the arm-inset,
- longer than the mens version,
- have a half belt and buckle at the back
- buttoned up the "female side"
- are labelled "jerkins, leather A.T.S."