Battledress: the common field uniform
Battledress was the standard field uniform of the British Army in the Second World War. The 1937 pattern was a short-waisted blouse with a waist belt, pleated patch pockets and a closed collar, worn with trousers. It replaced the older service dress for most field work, and most British soldiers wore it through the war.
Canadian forces also wore battledress. Canadian issue was broadly based on the British design but was made in Canada, and collectors often say its colour looks slightly greener or browner than British battledress. Dye, wear and age all change the colour of a surviving garment, so compare with care rather than rely on colour alone.
The Canadian Army uniform
Canadian soldiers are easiest to recognise by their insignia.
- The “CANADA” arc: overseas personnel wore a “CANADA” title on the upper sleeves. It is one of the first things to check on a Canadian item.
- Formation patches: Canadian divisions and formations had their own patches, which are worn on the upper sleeve. A patch can often be matched to a unit and period with a reference book, and its construction can help too, as explained in how to date a military patch by its backing and stitching.
- Helmets: the Brodie-pattern steel helmet was used, in the Mk II type and later in the Mk III type. See World War 2 military helmets for how these compare with other armies’ helmets.
- Webbing: Canadian equipment followed its own pattern of webbing, which should be checked against a reference rather than assumed to match British kit.
- Boots: Canadian forces used ammunition boots of several types. Check the type, height and maker’s marks against a reference.
Many sets mix Canadian and British parts, especially after the war. A mixed set is not automatically a fake, but it changes the value and should be recorded.
The commando uniform
The commandos were specialist raiding forces formed in 1940. Commando units wore standard battledress and kit in most cases, so the uniform itself is not always distinctive. The clues lie in the insignia and in the details of the unit.
Look for commando insignia, such as the commando dagger badge, and for unit titles. The green beret became a commando trademark during the war. Be careful with commando badges and berets, since replicas are common and some were produced for display or film work.
The general officer’s uniform
Senior officers, including generals, wore service dress with distinctive insignia. Staff officers and senior officers often had red cap bands and red collar patches, which set them apart from other officers. Gold embroidery was used on some cap badges and peaks.
Be cautious with generals’ uniforms. Many surviving examples are altered, mixed or copied. Check the rank insignia, the cap and the collar patches against a reference, and be wary of any uniform that is offered as a complete general’s outfit with no paperwork.
Dating and identifying WWII uniforms
A few checks can help you date a Second World War item:
- Labels and marks: maker’s names, contract numbers and size marks. The position and style of these marks can change over the war.
- Buttons and fasteners: stamped marks and materials can point to a period.
- Insignia: shoulder titles, formation patches and cap badges can be matched to a unit and date.
- Alterations: many uniforms were altered for the wearer or re-issued. A changed garment is still valuable, but its history should be recorded.
Record what you find before you decide what the item is. If the evidence is mixed, say so when you describe the item to a buyer or a reader.
Related reading
For the basics of collecting, start with the British and Commonwealth militaria collecting guide. For the desert kit of the same war, see British desert uniforms of the Western Desert campaign. For airborne camouflage, see Denison smock identification.