Canada, Commonwealth. A 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Denison Smock, by John & Gordon & Co., 1944

This is the Denison Smock used by airborne forces. It is fabricated from a thick windproof cotton and bears a camouflage print that exhibits bold "brush strokes", in dark green and brown on a khaki field. The pattern was officially known as Drill No.4 Camouflaged. It is designed in a pullover style, with a square-cut collar, the inside of which is lined in an Angola Drab. The shoulder straps incorporate the same camouflage pattern as the rest of the smock, both straps secured in place via an original brown plastic button that is sewn in place. The front has four large and deep square pockets, one on each breast and one of each side at the hip. Each pocket has a fold over flap, with a single brass snap receiver on the pocket, the snaps marked "NEWEY PAT.201430-22" as are all the snaps on the smock, its brass cap affixed to the flap, to secure the pocket closed. Sewn in place above the left breast pocket is type I Canadian Parachute Regiment Badge ("Jump Wings" issued to Canadians in November 1942), the badge in white, gold and forest green embroidery and is not original to the smock.

Both shoulders are adorned with three insignia, none of which are original to the smock: (i) a 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion shoulder flash screen-printed in maroon and green inks on a cotton khaki base; (ii) a 1st/6th Airborne Division Pegasus patch in light blue embroidery on a maroon wool base, left and right-facing appropriately; and (iii) an Airborne sleeve patch with the text screen-printed in light blue, with a maroon background, the patch sewn in place via black threading to an independent khaki cotton patch backer, the one on the left sleeve with its stitching coming away. Just below this group on the left shoulder is a British Airborne Paratrooper Badge in blue and white embroidery on a brownish-green wool base, with black threading giving definition to the wings, again, not original to the smock. The functional zipper comes with a khaki cotton pull-tab, the zipper beginning at the edge of the collar at the neck line and terminates at the mid-breast. There are six positions between the two front lower pockets with brass snaps for the tailpiece, with an reinforcing patch sewn in place on the underside.

The tailpiece flap is sewn in place to the rear skirt of the smock and bears two brass studs that are designed to be drawn up between the legs of the wearer and fastened to the inside of the front skirt via the six brass snaps, placed in pairs over three rows. There is a tab stitched in place below each lower pocket bearing a single brass snap receiver, however, only the one of the left side has its stud sewn in place on the body of the smock, as the right one has been lost to time. Each armpit comes with six reinforced ventilation holes. Both sleeve cuffs come with a tab incorporating a reinforced button hole, both sleeves with three brown plastic buttons and when the tab is connected to one of the buttons, ensures a snug fit at the wrist. Inside, there is a side entry pocket sewn in place just inside the zippered opening on both sides. Just behind the right waist pocket there is a 45 mm (w) x 53 mm (h) white cotton manufacturer's label inscribed in black ink "SMOCK DENISON / (AIRBORNE TROOPS) / SIZE 3 / Height 5'6" to 5'8" / Breast 36" to 38" / JOHN GORDON & CO.", dated "1944" and marked with the British Broad Arrow acceptance mark, with the stitching coming away on the left side of the label. The smock measures 540 mm across the shoulders x 775 mm in length overall, not including the tailpiece. It exhibits light soiling on the back, scattered white spotting on the front, soiling on the right shoulder and the right breast pocket, along with a white substance splatter present on both sleeve cuffs, in addition to wear and fraying in the fabric on the opening on the right cuff. As worn.