Cobden
Practically Family
- Messages
- 788
- Location
- Oxford, UK
Have an RAF officer's uniform for sale. About a 38 inch chest, 34 inch waist, trousers 32 inch waist, length 30 inches (but can be let down). The rank is currently Flying Officer, although there are still the remnants of where I removed the Wingco's rank lace (I foolishly thought it was a 1950's uniform)
Label on the inside of the pocket reads:
HJ Nicoll & Co Ltd
London & Paris
No 3812 Cutter 9
P/O D F Perrens
The belt is seperate, unusual in a WWII uniform, as is the hook and eye fastening under the belt. Otherwise, it is of the wartime cut, with four real buttons, the bottom two going either side of the belt. There is a ticket pocket under the belt, and double hook and eye fastening between the third and forth button. The belt (with a staybright buckle) has the name "Perrens" on it, which matches the name in the tunic; the stitching on the edge of the flap that holds the buckle in place looks to me to be a self done jobby, and not tailored, which would fit in with the buttons and belt buckle being replaced after the war. Donald Frank Perrens was acting Squadron Leader when he was awarded the DSO in April 1945 (when he was with 208 Sq, based in Ismaila, Egypt) He relinquished his commission in June 1948 retaining the rank of Squadron Leader. He also got the DFC - but I'm not sure when. At some point he joined up again, and was a Wing Commander by 1966, when he escorted the Queen around Eastbourne college.
As mentioned earlier, the rank was that of a Wing Commander, however the centre row of lace was in better condition than the outer two, on both sleeves (which suggests to me the officer in question cheated and just removed the half stripe and replace it with a full stripe when he got promoted; the stripes looked a bit too close together to me as well), and the lining had been torn in the sleeves, which confirms to me he promoted it himself, as the rows of lace had been sewn into the seam; in the photo's of him escorting the Her Majesty around Eastbourne College, you can see the difference in colour between the rank laces, so it was the same uniform. There are also padded KC wings on the chest, with a gap below where the medal ribbons would have been. No holes in the lapels to suggest VRT or anything similar after the war.
I am a bit loathe to sell it, due to it's connection to my old School (Eastbourne College) and it's Egyptian connection (208 squadron's emblem is the Sphinx), so I'll be looking for quite a bit for it. No photo's as yet, I'm afraid. Offers, please PM me.
Willing to trade for certain bits of flying kit; especially fleet air arm!
Label on the inside of the pocket reads:
HJ Nicoll & Co Ltd
London & Paris
No 3812 Cutter 9
P/O D F Perrens
The belt is seperate, unusual in a WWII uniform, as is the hook and eye fastening under the belt. Otherwise, it is of the wartime cut, with four real buttons, the bottom two going either side of the belt. There is a ticket pocket under the belt, and double hook and eye fastening between the third and forth button. The belt (with a staybright buckle) has the name "Perrens" on it, which matches the name in the tunic; the stitching on the edge of the flap that holds the buckle in place looks to me to be a self done jobby, and not tailored, which would fit in with the buttons and belt buckle being replaced after the war. Donald Frank Perrens was acting Squadron Leader when he was awarded the DSO in April 1945 (when he was with 208 Sq, based in Ismaila, Egypt) He relinquished his commission in June 1948 retaining the rank of Squadron Leader. He also got the DFC - but I'm not sure when. At some point he joined up again, and was a Wing Commander by 1966, when he escorted the Queen around Eastbourne college.
As mentioned earlier, the rank was that of a Wing Commander, however the centre row of lace was in better condition than the outer two, on both sleeves (which suggests to me the officer in question cheated and just removed the half stripe and replace it with a full stripe when he got promoted; the stripes looked a bit too close together to me as well), and the lining had been torn in the sleeves, which confirms to me he promoted it himself, as the rows of lace had been sewn into the seam; in the photo's of him escorting the Her Majesty around Eastbourne College, you can see the difference in colour between the rank laces, so it was the same uniform. There are also padded KC wings on the chest, with a gap below where the medal ribbons would have been. No holes in the lapels to suggest VRT or anything similar after the war.
I am a bit loathe to sell it, due to it's connection to my old School (Eastbourne College) and it's Egyptian connection (208 squadron's emblem is the Sphinx), so I'll be looking for quite a bit for it. No photo's as yet, I'm afraid. Offers, please PM me.
Willing to trade for certain bits of flying kit; especially fleet air arm!
