RE battledress
 

Good morning,

I have acquired this battledress recently. I need your advice about the combination of badges, among others the red wings. On the label, there is a name 'David Swinburn'. I have found a Brigadier David Henry Amyatt Swinburn, RE, born in Simla in 1934. Could he be the former owner ? There is also a stable belt with 24 Infantry Brigade buckle

Laurent

The UK Army List 1956 has this entry:

First Name:
D H A
Surname:
Swinburn
Nationality:
British
Rank:
2nd Lieutenant
Service:
British Army
Regiment:
Royal Engineers
Seniority Date:
06/08/1954

Thank you for these precisions

Laurent

It is my belief that this could be made up BD blouse.
First, Why RED wings when the RE wore normal colour wings? These look to be either Kings Royal Rifles (I think that is right) or 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles but they wore a smaller version of the wing.
Second, The stable belt buckle is a modern unit, 24 Infantry Brigade.
Third, The BD badge on the right arm, again is a modern RE badge that looks to have been aged.

I have no comment on the Formation patch as I am not up on these.
I may be wrong but......

Jerry
engr9266

Approved in 1988.

Marc:(

Can't imagine why anyone who owned and wore this would write 'Suit 1' inside, perhaps used by a theatrical company as an inventory mark or similar with added insignia.

Simon.

Thank you for your remarks. Too many badges, as I thought. If D. Swinburn was the real former owner, he was in Kenya in 1961 with 34 Independent Field Squadron, Royal Engineers, surely part of 24 Infantry Brigade. So, may be the brigade badges are good

Laurent

Good evening,

under the first name, I have found a service number : 474916. Based on the London Gazette, it corresponds to Jon FRANCIS
13/09/1963 2lt on probation Glosters
01/11/1965 Postal section RE
16/05/1967 Lieutenant Postal & Courier Section
01/12/1972 Lt Group A Parachute Rgt TAVR
05/03/1976 Lt Class II 10 Para Parachute Rgt

I know that TAVR officers often reused uniforms, cheaper than new ones. Could this career explain the badges ?

Laurent

As more than one suit of BD would be issued to an individual, marked to ensure that suits of blouse and trousers are matched and to distinguish best BD from other suits?

Certainly possible Leigh, perhaps as an indication for an Orderly dealing with the Officers Uniforms I suppose.

Simon.

Coincidence, we have a few of Brigadier DHA Swinburns First Day Covers. Not terribly exciting but thought I'd mention it as I'm sure you'll all be riveted 😂