Military issue

[dr greg]

I was watching the DVD of THE DIRTY DOZEN last night, fab old film, and I noticed that the officers were wearing Burberry trenches with insignia, now, did the US army issue them in WW2, or was that creative license from the wardrobe dept?

 

[FourKingTwenty]

Thomas Burberry designed the original trench coat for the British military. They were frequently worn by U.S. Army personnel during WWII. The Army did issue trench coats to soldiers, but I don't think they were Burberry brand trench coats. They were probably produced by a garment manufacturing company in the U.S. It seems likely that Army officers stationed in England could have purchased Burberry trench coats. Officers could probably afford little luxuries like that. Officers often had tailored uniforms rather than the "off-the-peg" uniforms issued by the quartermaster. When my grandfather was stationed in England he bought himself a nice Herbert Johnson officer's cap. He also put a 5 pound deposit down on an Eisenhower jacket, but he was shot down and never got to pick it up. I think he's also kind of ticked off that the Germans took his A-2 when they captured him.

George C. Scott also wore a Burberry trench coat in "Patton." When he takes off the coat, you can see the Burberry plaid lining.