Here’s something I’ve been after for a very long time. These are extremely hard pieces of Home Front kit to find, and so I’m ecstatic to finally have one. A Civil Defence warden’s tunic, 57a Pattern, with the ‘a’ indicating austerity. Dated 1942, with a label indicating it was tailored by Rego Clothiers Ltd. This appears to have belonged to a senior warden, going on the rank stripes beneath the shoulder titles. I’d therefore guess that this would be worn with a white helmet, rather than the basic level black ones?

There are five War Service chevrons on the right sleeve. All buttons and fitments are present and accounted for, with only a couple of light moth nibbles. A bit of light wear and tear, indicating that this tunic saw some use. 1942 puts it well past the hard days and nights of the Blitz, but it’s a wartime tunic, and one I’m very happy to have.

Regards, B.B.