8th Corps Royal Engineers Battledress

[Marcel Banziger]

Hello guys,

I've been looking for a nice wartime battledress for ages and I finally bought myself a nice one.....at least, I think it's a nice one according to all my research and studying. It's an 8th Corps Royal Engineers 1940 pattern, 1944 dated battledress. Nice about it is that the 8th Corps was on campaign in Holland, close to where I live (Venlo and Helmond for example) so this makes this BD all the more interesting because of the local history.

I'll post the pics uploaded by the seller and I hope you guys can say more about this one. I don't have it in hands yet so these pics are all I have for the moment (BD was bought from a well-respected UK based dealer).

Thanks for looking and for your opinions!

All the best,

Marcel

[Marcel Banziger]

Anyone has an opinion on originality please? I think it's a good one so I hope I didn't make a mistake with this one.

Thanks a lot

Marcel

[Bond]

As You now Marcel, I think it is a good BD, just the insignia looks more worn than it and that would concern me.

Jerry B.

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks Jerry. I know and agree with you. Was just hoping for some more opinions to see whether others draw the same conclusions or perhaps see things I don't see. Again your reply is much appreciated

[Bond]

Thanks Jerry. I know and agree with you. Was just hoping for some more opinions to see whether others draw the same conclusions or perhaps see things I don't see. Again your reply is much appreciated

I am surprised that none have ventured an opinion to help you Marcel, hopefully someone will do so soon.

Jerry.

[Ivo Wilms]

As said an original P40 Battledress Blouse in fine condition. The insignia appear to be original too, but are definitely not original to the jacket. Therefore I wouldn't pay more than the price of a badgeless jacket + the insignia.

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks Ivo for your opinion! Much appreciated!

I do have a 7 day return policy option so I'm not bound to the jacket

[ROBB]

I have to say I agree the patches have not melded into the uniform , they look a bit slap dash just my opinion . Rob

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks for your opinion ROBB, much appreciated.

Looks like everybody agrees on this one here. All original but not originally been together so this one should go back to the seller.

Thanks to all for their participation here!!
All the best,
Marcel

[Erwin L]

Hello Marcel

The wear of the battledress definetly doesn't match with the wear of the patches. Keep your money in case you find an untouched one. I have two untouched examples from the Guards Armored Division ( Welsh and Irish Guards)

Good luck finding an example for your collection👍

Regards

Erwin

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks Erwin,

Unfortunately I already bought it (usually these won't be for sale long so I had to make a quick decision). But I can send it back, there's a good return policy fortunately.

Now it's off hunting again for a good one

Best regards,
Marcel

[Old Smelly]

As said an original P40 Battledress Blouse in fine condition. The insignia appear to be original too, but are definitely not original to the jacket. Therefore I wouldn't pay more than the price of a badgeless jacket + the insignia.

I just wondering how you can say that 'are definitely not original to the jacket' without handling it?
I have come across many combinations of battledress/insignia and not all are perfect, in fact some are absolutely awfull, but at the same time, totally original. It is not impossible that the soldier could be issued with a new BD but used older insignia already in his possession. Bear in mind that soldiers did not have the same uniform for the whole of the campaign.
Lee

[Ivo Wilms]

There’s a mismatching set of RE titles on the BD, the AoS strips look like they’ve been through a meat grinder, while the rest shows more normal wear; and both AoS strips and L/Cpl stripes have been applied quite lax and show gaps that wouldn’t be so clearly visible if the BD had actually been worn after the application of these insignia. I am aware of the regulations and sloppy creations out there, but IMO this is definitely not such an example.