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The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

Article about: Hi Guys, British issue Battledress trousers have always been fairly hard to find and never cheap. They simply got used to destruction in service use or later as work or gardening wear. The f

  1. #1

    Default The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    Hi Guys, British issue Battledress trousers have always been fairly hard to find and never cheap. They simply got used to destruction in service use or later as work or gardening wear.

    The following are examples from my collection.

    This first example is a pure "1937 pattern", with belt loops and revolving shank plastic button to the first field dressing pocket and button and tabs to the lower leg to allow the trousers to be bloused easily.

    These were worn either with belt or braces (suspenders to our overseas cousins). The braces are rare to find in their own right and these are 1939 dated. Early war dated kit is always hard to find. These were issued according to size and were not elasticated like the later post war versions.

    All BD trousers were issued with the makers label sewn to the hip on the outside of the trousers. Having a large white label here was not a great idea from a camouflage point of view, nor does it look very smart. I am sure many a Sgt Major would have ordered them to be taken off? As a result most have the label removed.

    The markings to these trousers are interesting: the are "AV" marked, showing that they were Anti gas treated. AV means Anti-Vessicant. The cloth was treated to resist gas from penetrating to the skin. Dated 11/41, a very early one, as they were first issued to the troops in 1942. The chemical used was Dichlorophenylbenzol Chloroinide. It was actually unpopular with the troops due to the smell and sticky touch of the material when first issued.

    The original owner has added his service number in red thread.

    Note the button sewn on the outside of the waistband, this was to enable the trousers to be buttoned on to the BD blouse. (One of these is missing. I need to sew one back in place) It is also worth noting the diffferent buttons used.

    Cheers, Ade.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  
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  2. #2

    Default Re: The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    Here is where the label was once stitched in placed. Long gone....

    Cheers, Ade.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  
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  3. #3

    Default Re: The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    Here are a pair of later Austerity pattern BD trousers.

    You can now compare the details to the earlier issue. No belt loops or tabs to the botton of the legs. These tabs were ablolished in June 1941 being now regarded as unnecessary. Note the button to the rear trouser pocket is now exposed, earlier issues had this covered. All part of making the BD trousers cheaper and easier to produce.

    This pair has the back lined with green angola wool material (like that used in the other ranks shirt) as opposed to the cotton twill of the earlier issue.

    Note the typical wartime dark brown plastic buttons and the brass buttons to the fly.

    Cheers, Ade.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

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  4. #4

    Default Re: The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    Thanks for showing your BD trousers Ade, useful to see the differences between the types as they changed over time.
    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

  5. #5

    Default Re: The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    I now want to show another pair of Austerity trousers just to illustrate the size. This pair is tiny! They are laid here upon the previously shown pair.

    These feature a 26 inch waist and inside leg. Made for bantam sized soldiers, cadets or Gurkas. These will be size "01"

    Cheers, Ade.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

    The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers   The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers  

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  6. #6

    Default Re: The 1937 pattern British Battledress trousers

    Quote by Adrian Stevenson View Post
    I now want to show another pair of Austerity trousers just to illustrate the size. This pair is tiny! They are laid here upon the previously shown pair.

    These feature a 26 inch waist and inside leg. Made for bantam sized soldiers, cadet or Gurkas. These will be size "01"

    Cheers, Ade.
    Hi Ade,

    I have a size 1 BD blouse for GHQ India, Indian made and it is tiny compared to my other BD's, I'll post a comparison pic at some stage.
    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

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