British Great coat

Hi forum

I'm new here and this looks like a great forum. I have recently watched the film Dunkirk and if anyone hasn't seen it yet I would recommend to go and see it in an IMAX you actually feel like you are experiencing it.

During the film I really started to like the idea of the Greatcoats that the British Military used to wear - as part of my winter clothing this year. On most of the military surplus website's I have gone on, I can only find officer Greatcoats which are obviously more tailored.

Perhaps you could give me some more information on what type of the material was used for British Greatcoats during ww2 or info on where I could find someone that could make me one or a place that sells them.

I have attached a picture of the kind of style I'm interested in

Hope to hear reply soon,

All the best Mike

Welcome to the forum, Mike. Although I haven't taken a great deal of personal interest in British army Great Coats my understanding is that they were made from a "fleece type" material. I wouldn't have thought that you would need to go to the expense of having one made especially for you. There must have been millions made and you may be lucky in finding an original that suits your needs. There are firms such as Soldier of Fortune and Epic Militaria who cater for re-inactors who you could try. I have purchased items from both firms, although not a re-inactor myself, and they are both reliable companies. There are other similar firms who also cater for the re-inactor market that you could also try.

The British Army Great coat may well have been a popular coat for civilians to wear, casually/for manual out-door work post WW2, because my father often mentioned them and I believe that he may have worn one himself in the late 1940s while employed on a farm. I don't think that I still have it but I may have one or two photos of him wearing one while doing farm work. They were designed to keep you warm, I believe.

What Price Glory makes a reproduction greatcoat.

There is a genuine one here but post WW2, https://www.silvermans.co.uk/collect...ant=4197679363

They were made from a material called 'double serge' It was like the battledress material but of a much heavier weight/weave

Downside with "double serge" as Peter states, is, and also in the scenario of Dunkirk 1940 WW2, many were in reality disgarded, because they become deadly when waterlogged.
Plus the weight of traditional ammo boots, you went straight to the bottom, and the reason why so many got rid of them on the beaches prior to embarking, and why you see real WW2 footage of men wearing nothing on their feet.

When doing that sort of training, the first thing we were taught was to get rid of the outer wear and footwear. There's no way I'd be going into the water with anything, and I'd be stripping once in if dumped in. Anyone that had a greatcoat once they got back to England either didn't have to swim or was given it on board the shipping...

As the younger generation get more education, and are genuinely interested in the sacrifice their fathers and grandfathers made in conflicts such as WW2 in films like this, (where celebrities play lead roles), what these films do start, is start a mad rush on dress codes, and I can therefore see a mad rush on buying these "great coats" up ready for the winter!:thup:

Used to be everywhere in the 60's along with Busby's, Guardsmans jackets etc good old Carnaby Street, Soho, London, W1

I've heard of men stripping down to their underwear at Dunkirk, although many were saved by the Mole, the concrete structure that acted as a makeshift "jetty" and didn't need to enter the water provided that their ship wasn't sunk by the Luftwaffe or by a mine on the way home.

My mother well remembers, to this day, seeing many British soldiers, at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation, on trains and at stations in Yorkshire. She was a child at the time but was shocked to see the state of them; they were covered in mud and dirt and many hadn't been able to shave for days. They obviously hadn't had a chance to clean up after returning from France. She felt very sorry for them as did most other members of the British public.

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

therefore see a mad rush on buying these "great coats" up ready for the winter!

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Hang on a minute, Gil, don't forget the Duffel coat. ;) I've got a vintage one in my attic, somewhere, and will have to check if it's genuine, ex Royal Navy.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

I've heard of men stripping down to their underwear at Dunkirk, although many were saved by the Mole, the concrete structure that acted as a makeshift "jetty" and didn't need to enter the water provided that their ship wasn't sunk by the Luftwaffe or by a mine on the way home.

My mother well remembers, to this day, seeing many British soldiers, at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation, on trains and at stations in Yorkshire. She was a child at the time but was shocked to see the state of them; they were covered in mud and dirt and many hadn't been able to shave for days. They obviously hadn't had a chance to clean up after returning from France. She felt very sorry for them as did most other members of the British public.

---------- Post added at 06:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------


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We had a neighbour in the late 1950s who was a Dunkirk veteran. He told my dad that it was quite literally off the docks and straight on to trains and away from the channel ports as soon as they landed in England.

They envisioned the counter attack following. That's how you destroy an army, pound them during the route when they are vulnerable...

I've seen it stated that British soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk were sent home on 2 weeks leave, immediately. How correct this is and how many of those evacuated, if true, I don't know but I guess there were pros and cons for giving 2 weeks leave. They certainly deserved it after all they had been through.

They went home to get their greatcoats, which is where we started...

Seen a few at the War & Peace show, also other country variants, one dealer had rail full of them but not sure of which country, maybe Dutch or Belgium ?? I mentioned in another post about about an Army Navy store in Liverpool when I was kid, it had about 5 floors all packed to the gunnels with all types ex surplus clothing lots of Greatcoats, Army, Navy, RAF... Like others have said more often worn for work wear etc.

I don't think they will be too hard to find, have a look on ebay, WW2 dated ones will be a lot more than a post war one.

Have you found any of the replies helpful, Mike?

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Have you found any of the replies helpful

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He was last on when he posted this question...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

He was last on when he posted this question...

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Yep, that's correct.

My point is he asked a question and then headed out. Like so many we get here...hasn't looked back. Wonder if he will?

The forum is littered with 'em. Bren Browsers are the worst. Pick your brains and then pxxx-off. They're a breed apart!

That's why I asked, Jim. I thought that he may have come back and said thanks for the help because he may find that he needs further advice about something else in the future.

Off topic but are there any threads about the recent movie Dunkirk? Searched and did not see any. I saw it yesterday and wondered what everyone else's opinion was.

My dad was there as a l/cpl, ambulance driver with the RASC. Territorial, called up on 3rd Sept 1939. Came back on a paddler, the Gracie Fields.

Looks like I need to start a thread. Peter he had his hands full for sure a hearty salute to him!

I have a pair of aluminium mess tins that belonged to a family friend that were with him when he evacuated from Dunkirk because he brought his personal kit back with him. He retained the same mess tins for the rest of the war and they were with him when he landed on D-Day. It's a pity that they can't talk because I bet they could tell a few interesting stories if they could.

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Originally Posted by BruceHMX

Off topic but are there any threads about the recent movie Dunkirk?

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Originally Posted by BruceHMX

Looks like I need to start a thread.

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For sure...

Few would probably have had the Greatcoat, Dismounted, 1940 Pattern which was just coming in, most would probably have had the 1939 pattern or the old prewar single-breasted greatcoat.

As a cadet in the early 70's we found the great coat an asset when bivouacked at Northam on those damn cold wheatbelt nights they were worth there weight in gold not to good to wear on a night compass excersize but very handy when you have the grave yard shift on guard duty.
I had always liked wearing the battle dress uniform rather than the JG's even though at times the collar and pants could be a tad itchy it looked good with tie in place, highly polished boots when catching the train to school on cadet days mind you the great coat was no fun to lug around school either and woe betide the cadet who carelessly lost theirs and had to front the Captain...........

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Originally Posted by Mk VII

Few would probably have had the Greatcoat, Dismounted, 1940 Pattern which was just coming in, most would probably have had the 1939 pattern or the old prewar single-breasted greatcoat.

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Yep.

The '39 Patt ones are like rocking horse do-dah these days, and even the '40 Patt ones are pretty hard to get now, and were starting to get hard to find back in the late 90's!

I know someone that has recently sold his large size in good nick from his collection, for over a 100 quid...