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Uniforms / Hats and Clothing - British & Commonwealth

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Superb and extremely rare Royal Flying Corps maternity tunic for other ranks.

Simply stunning example of a Royal Flying Corps maternity tunic of the type worn by other ranks (enlisted). Khaki serge wool tunic with stand up collar and wrap-over plastron front. 100% original and with original embroidered RFC shoulder tabs on black wool field. Flap pockets with buttons, fastens with buttons and hooks-snd-eyes – all present and original to the tunic. Retains 90% of its tailor's label inside the skirt: Made by 

Miller Mfg Co. of Toronto. The same information is stamped inside one sleeve and there are other marks which have been obliterated (possibly laundry marks or owner's name). The condition is absolutely stunning, with the lightest signs of wear, and the slightest suggestion that perhaps "pips" were once added to the shoulder straps (a temporary field promotion maybe?). An unmessed with original that would be very difficult to upgrade. Note: pictured with field service cap and webbing belt NOT included but offered separately.

 

$2,500 / £1,970 / €2,310

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Royal Flying Corps other ranks field service cap.

WWI Royal Flying Corps field service cap (or sidecap) in khaki serge lined with oiled black cotton and a blanket wool sweatband. Fitted with correct brass RFC cap badge and brass General Service buttons. Very good condition, with no serious issues, just honest wear and two very small nips to the right hand side. Getting very difficult to find these days. Note: pictured with the other ranks maternity tunic and webbing belt which are offered separately.

 

$300 / £238 / €278

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P08 British Army webbing belt dated 1916.

WWI British Army P08 pattern webbing belt with green blanco finish. Belt is dated 1916 and maker marked M.E. Co. with broad arrow property mark and size "S". Perfect display accompaniment for the RFC other ranks' maternity tunic as pictured.  

 

$120 / £95 / €110

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RCAF sidecap for a cadet in flying training with white half-moon flash to front.

Excellent and very large size RCAF other ranks serge sidecap, fitted with a nice, brass cap badge and buttons, but unusual in still retaining the small white half-moon shape insert made from white, padded fabric which signified a cadet in pilot training. The crown of the hat has been stapled together with very long staples to create the "wedge" shape favoured by Canadians. Well-marked inside with the broad arrow "C"and Eaton Cap Co. plus the size, a whopping 7-5/8. the white insert is also marked with the manufacturer. Caps with the white flight cadet flash are surprisingly scarce. 

$120 / £100 / €115

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Unissued RAF/ WAAF uniform shirt detachable collar.

Excellent WWII detachable collar for the standard collarless RAF/WAAF shirt. I believe this is actually a WAAF shirt collar because it is labeled as a size 2, rather than in inches for neck size, however it is identical to the RAF shirt and would definitely work. Unissued, unworn and with superb A-crown-M stamp and stores code.

$22 / £18 / €20

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RARE Fleet Air Arm aircrew/battledress blouse and trousers for a Midshipman TAG (Telegraphist Air Gunner).

Not to be confused with the "Officer's working dress" which was a similar battledress design but with gilt buttons and only for officers  - the Royal Navy

introduced "battledress" - for aircrew only - very late in the war. Made of dark blue serge, it was essentially a flying suit and was to be worn only while on ops. This example is for a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Reserve Auxiliary, (note "wavy" gold lace on his lapel badges) with the rank of Midshipman (equivalent of a Warrant Officer) who served as a TAG (Telegraphist Air Gunner), most likely on Swordfish or Avenger aircraft. Blouse is dated 1945 and trousers are dated 1946 but this is a matched set, both in size and degree of wear. Shows light to moderate wear and some minor mothing here and there, but nothing that detracts. A very rare flying suit in overall good condition.

$525 / £430 / €495

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RAF officer's field service cap (sidecap).

 

Nice example of the officer's field service cap, more popular than the peaked cap during the war, with a ribbed silk lining, velvet sweatband and lovely gilt eagle and crown badge. One 5mm diameter moth nip to right hand side which could probably be repaired or disguised - otherwise near perfect.

 

$85 / £70 / €80

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RAF mess dress uniform trousers, named and dated 1939.

 

Excellent pair of pre-war RAF mess dress trousers i fine barathea wool, tailored by Gieves for L.H.M. Hely and dated 4/39. Complete with all buttons. There is some minor moth damage; one 1/4-inch nip and a series of 5 or 6 pinhead size holes down the outside of the right leg, spaced about 4 inches apart, that are difficult to see. There is another tiny hole on the outside of the left leg and a couple of holes just below the waistline (would most likely be concealed by the jacket). None of it is very serious and practically invisible from a few feet away. Nice early date with a name to research and of course expertly tailored.

$100 / £78 / €92

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Post 1952 RAF Group Captain's peaked cap.

 

RAF Group Captain's service dress peaked cap from  the early postwar years (after 1952) having a cap badge with the "Queen's Crown."

Otherwise identical to the WWII types. A beautiful cap and still quite rare since this version of the officer's cap, with a single row of gold bullion "scrambled egg" on the peak, was only worn by Group Captains. Excellent condition with little wear and no damage, the only issue being a couple of small tears to the interior oilcloth lining. Tailored by Herbert Johnson of New Bond Street. Lovely patina to the bullion on the heavily padded badge as well as the peak. Patent leather chin strap and peak with green underside.

$85 / £65 / €78

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WWII RAF Air Commodore uniform tunic.

 

Uniform items to officers of Air Rank (equivalent of generals) are extremely rare and do not often come up for sale. This is a lovely example of an Air Commodore's tunic, with an interesting modification. The tunic is definitely of WWII pattern, with 4 equally spaced, full-size buttons down the front (the new pattern, introduced in 1947, featured 3 full-size and one flat button, concealed behind the belt). the buttons however, have been replaced—no doubt because an officer of such standing could do so—with anodized (sta-brite) type which were created in 1950 but not actually issued until around 1954 (by which time, all buttons were Queen's crown). Since these sta-brite buttons feature the Kings crown, this Air Commodore clearly wanted to be ahead of the crowd! So, to clarify: a wartime (or pre-1947) tunic with rare first generation anodized KC buttons. No name unfortunately, but it is in great condition and has a lovely set of KC pilot wings, medal ribbons (and loops for wearing a full medal bar). Tailored by Simpsons of Piccadilly. 

$575 / £440 / €515

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Royal Navy officer's working dress blouse, rank of Midshipman RNVR.

 

Introduced in 1944, largely as the result of petitioning by FAA aircrews who wanted an army/RAF style battledress to wear for flying instead of their double-breasted uniforms. The RN finally gave in and two types were issued, a fly-fronted (concealed buttons) version for all ranks, and this gilt button type, exclusively for officers, which would include Midshipman - the RN equivalent of a Warrant Officer. Rank is that of a Midshipman in the Naval Reserve (known as the "Wavy Navy" and denoted by "wavy" gold braid). This example is in excellent condition, large size and dated 1944. Though available to RN officers in all trades and professions, it was especially favoured by FAA aircrews.

$350 / £285 / €325

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Royal Flying Corps other ranks sidecap, named.

Royal Flying Corps side cap for other ranks in excellent condition. Khaki wool serge cap with a well-polished brass RFC cap badge and RFC brass buttons. It has a number stamped on the wool sweatband 33177 and inside the sweatband is the name green and the number 293, handwritten. Very good condition with minimal wear and one pinhead size nip at the top edge just behind the badge (very difficult to see). These are getting very hard to find.

$235 / £190 / €215

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RAF 1937 pattern webbing set with belt, cross-straps, canteen, Webley holster and ammo pouch.

Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing set, with all components showing equal wear, with owner's service number on belt, cross-straps and canteen cover, holster dated 1943 and ammo pouch dated 1942. Canteen cover is dated 1942. Other markings are there but faded. All hardware is made of brass with a good patina. Canteen is wool covered and retains original cork. A very nice set which will display well on a RAF tunic or uniform.  RAF webbing is getting harder to find these days.

$250 / £205 / €230

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RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt in excellent condition.

Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt with all brass fittings, retaining much of its original blue grey blancoed finish. Large "N" to centre and maker markings visible but difficult to determine. Excellent example.

$70 / £57 / €65

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RAF other ranks sidecap dated 1943.

Excellent RAF other ranks' sidecap in excellent condition, showing virtually no wear. Maker marked and dated 1943. Size 6-1/2 so may have been issued to a WAAF (they also had the option to wear these). Perfect for display and has  a lovely well polished badge and correct KC buttons. 

$75 / £60 / €68

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British Army battledress blouse, 1940 pattern, dated 1945, type issued to RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force.

Nice example of the standard 1940 pattern British Army battledress blouse, made from khaki serge wool and dated 1945. Very large size! Khaki BD was issued to all RAF personnel stationed in Europe after D-Day serving with the 2nd tactical Air Force, because the RAF blue uniforms were easily confused with German uniforms. All correct buttons are present, no insignia and shows little or no wear. There are a couple of very small moth nips on the sleeves and two on the left shoulder, but these don't detract.

$200 / £165 / €185

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Scarce RCAF KD tunic to BCATP Air Observer School.

KD service dress tunic acquired directly from a RCAF veteran pilot who spent part of his service time as an instructor at Air Observers School #8, located at Ancienne Lorrette Airfield outside Quebec. Tunic is well-marked and dated 1942 and is fitted with scarce AOS (Air Observer School) buttons. BCATP items are scarce and  would be  well worth researching for more details.

$125 / £105 / €118

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RAF Air Ministry issue coathanger, dated 1938.

Only ever seen one of these previously, and for a uniform collector or just as a display item, they are quite brilliant. Well made and sturdy all wood coat or uniform hanger (it has the crossbar for trousers) superbly marked with the A-crown-M and contract number as well as stores reference information. Another one of those rare and unusual accessories. 2 available. Price is for one coathanger.

$80 / £65 / €75

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RAF other ranks service dress trousers.

Quite difficult to find, especially in good condition, because these hard wearing wool trousers were often kept and worn after the war. This pair is in excellent condition, with original early brass dished buttons (though some appear to have have been resewn). No label but there is an ink stamp inside the waistband, although it is difficult to read. These are correct wartime pattern and would compliment any wartime service dress blouse/jacket. No sign of mothing or anything but very light wear.

$145 / £125 / €146

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RAF Warrant Officer Flight Engineer's service dress jacket dated 1945.

 

Nice example of an issue pattern RAF service dress uniform for a warrant officer, tailored in blue barathea wool with a blue/grey satin lining, good 1945 dated label and a nicely worn heavily-padded Flight Engineer's brevet to the left chest. Worn wings always suggest use while on operations, because the parachute harness would tend to rub the silk thread (even if a mae west is worn). Jacket shows use but no excessive wear or damage. The wool has that nice "shiny" look in a few places. Sadly no name but flight engineer uniforms are not too common in my experience.

$175 / £130 / €155

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RAF War Service Dress blouse dated 1945, modified to open lay-flat collar.

Quite a rare variation of the standard War Service Dress blouse. Dated 1945, this would have been manufactured and worn with a standing collar that could be fastened up to the neck. Some officers and senior NCOs  would have their tailor modify the neck to an open "lay-flat" collar, which was finally introduced as standard in later, post-war patterns. This is an example of a wartime blouse which has been modified, very nicely (though somewhat roughly on the inside). It has also had some period repairs to the back, which again have been very nicely done so as to be almost invisible. An interesting and scarce modification. All good period insignia including a nice flat Navigator brevet.

$300 / £220 / €265

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RCAF officer's Service Dress uniform jacket to an Air Gunner Flying Officer.

Very nice, high quality RCAF officer's Service Dress jacket to a Flying Officer/Air Gunner. Very good condition showing only light wear, with a lovely RCAF Canadian made Air Gunner brevet. Good labels inside jacket but no sign of an owner's name.

$175 / £205 / €245

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WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot.

WWII issue Service Dress tunic to a Warrant Officer pilot. Officer quality tailoring from fine barathea wool, yet this is an issue uniform rather than privately tailored. While officers were generally expected to provide their own uniforms from private tailors, other ranks and NCOs, being less well paid, were supplied from RAF stores. Since Warrant Officers were senior NCOs who wore officers' uniforms, they were provided with officer quality materials. These were not common and don't turn up on the collector market all that often. Though not named, this Warrant Officer's SD tunic is a beautiful example of an issue "officer grade" uniform, and includes a lovely well-padded pilot wing brevet.  

$350 / £255 / €300

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WWII dated RAF PT Shorts.

 

A seldom found accessory for an airman's kit. Blue grey cotton shorts used with a white t-shirt for PT every morning. In very good condition. This airman had the good sense to replace the drawstring tie with elastic which retains its stretch. Size 36 waist and well marked with a 1942 date. Very good condition.

 

$50 / £35 / €42 

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British Army officer's sidecap with Royal West Kent Regt. badge.

 

Excellent officer's sidecap with a beautiful slider-back cap badge of the Royal West Kent Regiment. No wear or damage but some staining to the interior. Badge and GS buttons appear to be WWI era and this may have belonged to someone serving in the Home Guard 1940-43. 

$85 / £65 / €73   

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RAF Queen's Crown (postwar) uniform full-size brass buttons.

 

A quantity of postwar RAF uniform buttons (all full-size for tunic or greatcoat). Various different makers, and styles - including a few  "Sta-brite" - all with Queen's Crown. Let me know your needs and I will try to find matching styles while stocks last.

Price each.

$1.30 / £1 / €1.15

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