Old British army sizing

[Rufus]

Yet another question for ye knowledgeable gentlemen..


WW2 British army sizing..Is there a chart?

Ie - Sizes 4,5,6 etc., What do these actually acquate to?

I'm looking to get a dispatch rider's jacket, but can't work out what size I'd need. (I'm size 38/40)



Thank you for any assistance!

Rufus

 

[John Lever]

Rufus, about 7 years ago I was watching a leather British Dispatch Riders Coat with the single pocket. It sold for £20 with only one bid !
Those were the days ...

I have a WW2 jerkin size No. 2. Height 5' 7 '' to 5' 10 ''
Breast 37 '' to 43 ''
I take a size 44 in current repro's. . This is a very generous fit.

Good luck, John

 

[Trotsky]

The sizes would go up: for example a man 5' 10" in height and a 32" waist would be a size 9. A size 10 would be a 6' 0" and 32" waist. Each series of three sizes would have short, average and tall then start over.
Dispatch riders coats will be a different sizing system from Battledress. It seems really quite complex today but it had its place in the army then. I have a list of BD sizes somewhere on the 'ol HDD. But Coats would be different.

 

[Rufus]

Cheers Trotsky, if you can find them, would be appreciated!
.. and thanks John!

Ruf

 

[BellyTank]

I posted a chart of just such a thing, somewhere on the Lounge...
a wee while back...
Paddy will know where...

I'll see if I can spot them-

B
T

 

[BellyTank]

Here 'tis-

Twas here:
http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=7737&highlight=british+army+sizing

You probably need a 9, 11, 12, or 14..., depending on your height


Battle Dress Blouse Sizes

Size Waist Breast Height

#1 32-33 32-33 5'3-5'4
#2 30-31 29-30 5'3-5'4
#3 31-32 33-36 5'3-5'4
#4 30-31 33-36 5'5-5'6
#5 31-32 36-37 5'5-5'6
#6 34-35 38-39 5'7-5'8
#7 32-34 35-36 5'7-5'8
#8 35-36 37-38 5'7-5'8
#9 37-38 39-40 5'7-5'8
#10 31-32 36-37 5'9-5'10
#11 33-34 38-39 5'9-5'10
#12 35-36 40-41 5'9-5'10
#13 33-34 38-39 5'11-6'0
#14 35-36 39-40 5'11-6'0
#15 37-38 42-43 5'11-6'0
#16 34-35 39-40 6'0-6'2
#17 37-38 43-44 6'0-6'2
#18 38-39 43-44 6'0-6'2
#19 35-36 40-41 5'5-5'6


Battle Dress Trouser Sizes

Size Waist Inseam Height

#1 32-33 28 5'3-5'4
#2 30-31 28 5'3-5'4
#3 31-32 30 5'3-5'4
#4 30-31 30 5'5-5'6
#5 31-32 30 5'5-5'6
#6 34-35 30 5'7-5'8
#7 32-34 30 5'7-5'8
#8 35-36 30 5'7-5'8
#9 37-38 30 5'7-5'8
#10 31-32 32 5'9-5'10
#11 33-34 32 5'9-5'10
#12 35-36 32 5'9-5'10
#13 33-34 32 5'11-6'0
#14 35-36 32 5'11-6'0
#15 37-38 32 5'11-6'0
#16 34-35 32 6'0-6'2
#17 37-38 32 6'0-6'2
#18 38-39 32 6'0-6'2
#19 35-36 30 5'5-5'6

Got any more awkward questions..?

B
T
__________________

 

[Edward]

I always knew I could get down to a size 12 or 14 (just not quite how I'd manage it! ). Very useful, BT - I'm still watching for the fabled eBay bargain on an original Irvin, this will keep me right.

 

[Rufus]

Thanks Belly Tank, you're a star!

Rufus

 

[Alan Eardley]

Just to add that the sizes are not necessarily consistent across different clothing items and different arms of service. So a Size 1 Army Battledress Blouse would not necessarily fit the same size person as a Size 1 RAF Flying Jacket.

You can often only use the size chart for item you are interested in to judge different sizes and the size ranges (i.e. Size 1 to Size X) are widely different.

Alan

 

[Edward]

Just to add that the sizes are not necessarily consistent across different clothing items and different arms of service. So a Size 1 Army Battledress Blouse would not necessarily fit the same size person as a Size 1 RAF Flying Jacket.

You can often only use the size chart for item you are interested in to judge different sizes and the size ranges (i.e. Size 1 to Size X) are widely different.

Alan

Alan, to clarify... do you mean that there was no uniform Size 12 across all garments, or do you mean that the sizes above relate to the garments, i.e. in the way I would need a 44" chest Irvin to go over a 42" chest battle tunic, and so couldn't assume I would always be one uniform size across the full range of garments?

 

[Alan Eardley]

Alan, to clarify... do you mean that there was no uniform Size 12 across all garments, or do you mean that the sizes above relate to the garments, i.e. in the way I would need a 44" chest Irvin to go over a 42" chest battle tunic, and so couldn't assume I would always be one uniform size across the full range of garments?

Edward

There was (is?) no uniform sizing across all garments across all arms of service.

Alan

 

[ianbrettcooper]

Don't want to create a whole new thread for what is precisely the same subject, but can anyone tell me what an "A" suffix means in terms of battle dress size? I'm currently looking at a size "12A" on eBay and while size 12 would fit me perfectly, I don't know if a size 12A would. The item has no other size markings - no inch listings.

Any ideas?