1942 RCAF Battledress Jacket with 3 Abnormal Buttons

Object/Artifact

-

Royal Canadian Military Institute

Name/Title

1942 RCAF Battledress Jacket with 3 Abnormal Buttons

Entry/Object ID

2019.16.1

Description

1942 Royal Canadian Air Force battledress jacket made of blue-grey serge wool. The collar is closed with a single set of metal hooks and eyes. The jacket is single-breasted with six assorted buttons. The bottom three buttons on the placket are brass RCAF buttons (2.5 cm diameter). The topmost button is a Norwegian Army button (2.5 cm). The second button is a silver Trans Canada Airline button (2.3 cm diameter). The third button is a silver Canada General Service button with a coat of arms (2 cm diameter). The shoulder straps are buttoned into place with a metal button (originally painted black) (1.7 cm diameter). On the shoulder straps are a black and blue Officer's rank ribbon. There are two breast box pleat pockets with scalloped flaps closed with a hidden black metal button (1.7 cm diameter). Above the left breast, is the leftover fabric from a patch that was ripped off. Underneath each armpit is three eyelet holes finished with black thread. The waist is pleated to fit the waistband belt. The waistband belt (117.5 x 7.4 cm) can be closed with a metal buckle (4.5 x 2.5 cm) and a belt loop. A black metal button (1.7 cm diameter) closes the cuff of the sleeves. The inside is unlined. The collar, button placket, and waistband belt are reinforced with a blue cotton twill. A hanging loop is sewn into the waistband and made of the same blue cotton twill. Each side of the jacket has an inside pocket accessible vertically near the button placket near the breast. Along the centre back of the waistband are three eyehole buttonholes.

Context

Chest patch removed and buttons changed by the original owner.

Made/Created

Artist

The T. Eaton Co. Limited

Date made

1942

Place

* Untyped Place

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Accession Number

Location

Sewn into lining of bottom right hem

Type

Inscription

Location

Collar lining

Transcription

"BING GARLAND"

Type

Inscription

Location

Right inner pocket above manufacture markings

Transcription

"4188 2042 [...] 341.2"

Type

Manufacturer's Mark

Location

Right inner pocket

Transcription

"TH[...] EATON CO.LTD. [...] 1942 MONTREAL FACTORY Size No. 8 Height 5'7"-5'8" Breast 37-38"

Type

clothing tag

Location

Left inner pocket

Transcription

"T. EATON Co [...] OF MONTREAL MONTREAL FACTORY Size [8] Height 5'7"-5'8" Breast 37-38 SUIT AIRCREW BLOUSE SERGE 1942"

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Jacket

Width

57.5 cm

Length

59.4 cm

Circumference

116 cm

Dimension Notes

Circumference and width measured at the armpits