WWII British broad arrow letter codes and their meaning

[Jerry B]

Just adding this for reference , but the letter codes for WWII British arrow marked items is as follows;

R=1939 Q=1940 P=1941 O=1942 N=1943 M=1944 L=1945 though Z can also equal 1945

The post war sequence is not known, but it should be possible to work it out if enough dated and arrow marked items were available for study. During WWI it appears that they used a code sequence of letters based on the issuing depots, which has been posted on the Great war forum. I don't think any work has yet been done on the interwar years, but I think they put the date below the arrow in most cases.

Shown is a double marked item of headgear with an arrow marked and dated label and a Letter code marked broad arrow stamp.

[Stinkpotpete]

Cool, I never knew that Thank you

[Jerry B]

Not my research so I'm posting a link to this on WWI letter codes from the Great War forum.

RACD Acceptance Stamp--Might have answer on Letter codes - Uniforms,Cap Badges and Insignia - Great War Forum

[Gunny Hartmann]

Cheers Jerry!....

[Jerry B]

?=1933-36
t=1937 & 1956 *
s=1938 & 1957
r= 1939 & 1948
q=1940
p=1941
o=1942
n=1943
m=1944 & 1953
z=1945
l=1945, 1946 & 1953
e,p=1947 *
r=1948
a=1949
b,a=1950 *
b=1951
c=1952
l=1953
m=1954
d,o,t=1955 *
t=1956 & 1937
s=1957
f=1958
x=1959 *

[Jerry B]

U on a 1935 dated Pith helmet.


This suggests that the wartime system was in place prior to the war.

U=191935/36 T=1937 S=1938 R=1939 Q=1940 P=1941 O=1942 N=1943 M=1944 L=1945 though Z can also equal 1945

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Thanks for the info Jerry, I only just spotted this! Slow readers group...

[Shane Reed]

Here is one for you all. It's the same watch given to Dwight Eisenhower before becoming President. What say you? 1940 British military with Q date code?

[Shane Reed]

This is the One that Eisenhower received and what is known.
Bulova Wrist Watch Inscribed to President Dwight Eisenhower-Other Firearms Auction Lot-3439

[Jerry B]

I know nothing about watches, however normally items have the WD letters as well as the year code letter and arrow.

Perhaps for such items as this the layout is different.