Item 2022.60 - Smock, Denison Airborne Troops

2022.60

Smock, Denison Airborne Troops

Item

1

Heavy cotton drill over-smock printed with a brush stroke camouflage pattern in shades of khaki, brown and green. The collar is square cut, lined with khaki wool and has a Lightening zip fastening which opens to the chest. The shoulders have button fastened epaulettes and each cuff is adjustable with a button fastening. The smock has four large angled patch pockets on the front; two at the chest and two at the waist. These are closed by pointed flaps that are secured by metal Newey press-studs. At the base of the smock is a long 'tailpiece' flap attached by press-studs that fasten between the wearers legs to ensure that the smock doesn't rise up before or during a parachute jump. Under each arm are six ventilation holes. The smock is camouflage printed with a dark green and brown brush stroke pattern on a khaki background.

Label: Smocks-Denison / Airborne Troops / Size 3 / Height 5' 4[?]" to 5'8[?]" / Breast 36" to 38" / P. Frankenstein & Sons (N/6) / [Unreadable]
Made in UK
Material: Heavyweight cotton drill
Measurements: 66cm [Chest], 83cm [Length], 57cm [Arms]
Details: Patch pockets, 'tailpiece' flap
Physical Condition: Good

Taking it's name from it's designer, Major Denison, the Denison Smock was primarily used by British Airborne Forces during the Second World War to prevent equipment snagging on clothing before and during a parachute jump. Windproof but not waterproof, it was intended to be worn over the standard uniform battledress for training and operational service from 1941 onwards.

The button cuffs and khaki background to the camouflage pattern indicate that this is a 2nd Pattern Denison Smock; in use between 1944 and the end of the Second World War. Both 1st Pattern and post war smocks had a knitted cuff.