Original British WWII Era Royal Army Ordnance Corps No. I Dress Blue Jacket Featuring Chainmail epaulets Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. No. 1 Dress, or “dress blues”, is a ceremonial uniform, worn on only the most formal of occasions and by senior staff officers, aides to the Royal Family, and to the personal staff of senior officers in command. It is not generally issued to all units, with the khaki No. 2 Dress functioning as the main parade uniform.

No. 1 dress originated in the “undress” uniforms (‘blue Patrols’) worn for semi-formal or ordinary duty occasions in the late 19th century. It was first issued in its current form for the 1937 Coronation, intended as a cheaper alternative to the full dress uniforms that had been generally withdrawn after 1914. It became known as No. 1 Dress in 1947. Army units participating in the 1953 Coronation wore the new uniform as a temporary issue.

For most units, No. 1 dress consists of a peaked cap, caubeen or beret; depending on the regiment, dark blue tunic, trousers, overalls (tight-fitting trousers historically worn by mounted troops), or skirts (worn with tights). Units are distinguished by badges and the colors of the cap, tunic piping, vertical stripes (“welts”) on the trousers, and the colour of the collar for certain cavalry regiments. The tunic and trousers of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are rifle green. The Rifles wear a rifle green tunic with black trousers. The Royal Dragoon Guards and the King’s Royal Hussars wear dark green and crimson overalls respectively. Cavalry regiments wear shoulder chains in place of shoulder straps. The Royal Regiment of Scotland wears a short jacket called a “doublet”, in Archer Green. Prior to amalgamation, Highland regiments wore the doublet with the kilt and sporran while Lowland regiments wore trews, both in the individual regiment’s tartan.

In the full ceremonial order of No. 1 Dress, officers wear a waist sash of crimson silk and twisted cord epaulets; while general officers wear a waist sash of gold and crimson stripes. Light cavalry regiments wear a lace cross belt in place of the sash, while Rifle regiments wear a polished black leather crossbelt, as do the Special Air Service and Royal Army Chaplains Department (who have a unique pattern of tunic that features an open step collar instead of a mandarin collar). Other ranks wear a white, buff or black leather belt with a regimental pattern locket, with a bayonet frog if carrying arms.

This lovely WWII era dress blue coat is in wonderful condition and features the lovely chainmail epaulets! Mail was frequently used for the epaulets of military uniforms and it is still used today by the British Territorial Army, and the Royal Canadian Armored Corps of the Canadian Army.

The condition is excellent and all buttons are present and still completely attached to the uniform. There are no unit marks or soldiers’ names written anywhere on the uniform.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 10”
Shoulder to sleeve: 24.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 17”
Chest width: 18”
Waist width: 17.5″
Hip width: 20”
Front length: 30″