Commonwealth clothing sizes

[Mojave Jack]

Anybody have a chart or know how the sizes on British and Commonwealth uniforms works? I know they have a range to them, i.e. size 8 is from 5'5" to 5'8" with a waist of 30" to 32" or something along those lines [huh] , but I've never seen a table or anything.

 

[BellyTank]

Here Jack!

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

 

[PADDY]

Well Done BT..!

Nice one...Maximum Effort!!

 

[BellyTank]

Yes Paddy- it took me a considerable amount of time to collate and record all the size information from all my uniforms.

B
T

 

[Mojave Jack]

Bravo!

Thanks, BT! :eusa_clap

That's some wide ranging collection you've got there! You'll be smelling of moth balls and blanco for days after pulling all of them out to check the sizes. I appreciate the effort!

OK, but one more awkward question: who the heck came up with that system?!

 

[desertweasel]

BD Sizing system

The sizing system is pretty simple, once you understand the rationale of how it was organized.

In summary, the sizes are arranged around height ranges with a size for slim, medium, and stocky builds within each height range.

For example, sizes 1, 2, and 3 are for the shortest height range and represent a slim (1), medium (2), and stocky (3) builds within that range (5'3" to 5'5", if I remember correctly.

Sizes 4, 5, and 6 then repeat the process for the next taller range (5'5" to 5'6").

This process continues with 7, 8, and 9; size 10, 11, and 12; 13, 14, and 15, and, finally sizes 16, 17 and 18.

The stocky size (and this assumes stocky in the context of 18-20 year olds) typically has a slightly larger chest and waist size within each height band.


Here is a size chart I use for reference:


Regular Size SOME VARIATIONS MAY BE FOUND BETWEEN WAIST SIZES
OF JACKETS AND TROUSERS

Height Chest Waist Breech (seat)
1 H 5'3 - 5'4 C 32 - 33 W 28 - 29 BR 33 - 34
2 H 5'3 - 5'4 C 34 - 35 W 30 - 31 BR 35 - 36
3 H 5'3 - 5'4 C 36 - 37 W 31 - 32 BR 37 - 38
4 H 5'5 - 5'6 C 34 - 35 W 29 - 30 BR 35 - 36
5 H 5'5 - 5'6 C 36 - 37 W 31 - 32 BR 37 - 38
6 H 5'5 - 5'6 C 38 - 39 W 33 - 34 BR 39 - 40
7 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 36 - 37 W 30 - 31 BR 36 - 37
8 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 38 - 39 W 32 - 33 BR 38 - 39
9 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 40 - 41 W 34 - 35 BR 40 - 41
10 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 36 - 37 W 31 - 32 BR 37 - 38
11 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 38 - 39 W 33 - 34 BR 39 - 40
12 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 40 - 41 W 35 - 36 BR 41 - 42
13 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 38 - 39 W 33 - 34 BR 39 - 40
14 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 40 - 41 W 35 - 36 BR 41 - 42
15 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 42 - 43 W 37 - 38 BR 43 - 44
16 H 6'1 - 6'2 C 39 - 40 W 34 - 35 BR 40 - 41
17 H 6'1 - 6'2 C 41 - 42 W 36 - 37 BR 42 - 43
18 H 6'1 - 6'2 C 43 - 44 W 38 - 39 BR 44 - 45

Oversized

19 H 5'6 - 5'7 C 41 - 42 W 35 - 36 BR 41 - 42
20 H 5'6 - 5'7 C 43 - 44 W 37 - 38 BR 43 - 44
21 H 5'6 - 5'7 C 44 - 45 W 39 - 40 BR 46 - 46
22 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 42 - 43 W 36 - 37 BR 42 - 43
23 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 44 - 45 W 38 - 39 BR 44 - 45
24 H 5'7 - 5'8 C 46 - 47 W 40 - 41 BR 46 - 47
25 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 43 - 44 W 37 - 38 BR 43 - 44
26 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 45 - 46 W 39 - 40 BR 45 - 46
27 H 5'9 - 5'10 C 47 - 48 W 41 - 42 BR 47 - 48
28 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 44 - 45 W 39 - 40 BR 45 - 46
29 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 46 - 47 W 41 - 42 BR 47 - 48
30 H 5'11 - 6'0 C 48 - 49 W 43 - 44 BR 49 - 50

 

[BellyTank]

Of course I don't hvae such a collection

I guess it was a department of the War Ministry- for ease of issue/ordering/administration/communication- rather than;

"Yes- I'll have 26x 31-32 36-37".

"26x #5" is probably easier.

I have all the #sizes and corresponding measurements memorised- of course.

B
T

 

[Alan Eardley]

British sizing

BT

Well done! Don't forget that the system was complicated by the fact that different clothing styles (and different arms of service) used different sizes! A Size 3 in BD may be for a different size geezer than a Size 3 flying jacket, for instance.

 

[BellyTank]

Hello Alan!

B
T

 

[nightandthecity]

yes, i want to confirm Alan's point because it needs stressing. The numbering system varies between different clothing types. For example, the Irvin jacket system is quite different from (and much simpler than) the BD system.

Its also worth bearing in mind that the actual fit of what was classed as the same size can vary enormously between types. Those rubberized DR coats and Officers riding macs, for example, were cut ridiculously oversize..whereas Irvins, also meant to be worn over many layers, were cut much closer.

Anyway, I can see that i shall have to cut and paste some of this into my files. Great stuff guys, this is what makes the Lounge worthwhile.

 

[BellyTank]

Denims too, of course, being an overall.

I guess the sizing chart is a usefull tool anyway, in helping one to assess numbered sizes.

B
T

 

[Mojave Jack]

OK! So the sizes are essentially a guide! :eusa_doh: Good to know. You're absolutely right, though, BT. If there is a number, at least you have some idea what to expect. It's not that unusual, I suppose, even today. I have at least three different shoe sizes in my closet, and my military issue boots are all one size smaller than my civilian shoes.

 

[Alan Eardley]

Sizing...

Remember that sizes were to help the Quartermaster - not the 'end user'. A unit QM issuing 100s of BDs would soon get used to the size numbers. The idea was to compare two BD uniforms, not a BDU with a flying suit. Anyway, you had what you got given, so to speak.

Now, a brief rant. The foremost supplier of re-enactment clothing in the UK has had their patterns changed to cope with 'the longer modern body'. What??? What evidence is there that a man 5'11" tall today has a 'longer body' than a man of the same height in 1944? None, I think! What they mean is that men wear their trouser waistbands lower today (even re-enactors, who should know better), that there are more taller men today (true) and (here's where the rant comes in) they are only selling approximate (Small, Medium and Large) sizes.

How (un)realistic is that? Wartime BD blouses are supposed to be short, and supposed to be fitted. I see re-enactors 5'8" tall with hip length BD blouses. If you're paying for authenticity, that's what you should be getting, especially WRT the fit. You can be a mile off with the details (e.g. cloth and buttons) and it won't show at 50 feet away, but the fit will.

OK, rant over.

 

[BellyTank]

Alan- I can't see how the BD set would work with a 'low' waist- considering that the original, high-waist trousers button into the blouse to make a tidy, comfortable and somewhat self-supporting uniform unit.

who is this vendor..?

B
T

 

[Alan Eardley]

BD fit

BT,

You're right - it doesn't (work, I mean). It's SoF, in their catalogue No. 35 Page 4. New 1937 Pattern BD Jacket BE603. I quote, '... all made slightly longer than the originals to fit the modern body'. I estimate that about an inch and a half has been added.

On the model in the catalogue, the buckle is almost touching the FFD pocket on the hip. This doesn't look right - anyone who looks at wartime photographs can see that. Otherwise this is a very good reproduction, and SoF make a point of saying that they have spoken to re-enactors and collectors in 'working up' this new reproduction.

Good for them, but this is the same sort of pressure from customers that is causing A-2 reproducers to change the cut of that wartime classic. And that ain't right, either.

Just my opinion.