Poland. A British-Made Airborne Beret, c.1943

Beret with an Army green wool upper, with a 40 mm (w) x 55 mm (h) white embroidered Polish Army eagle insignia on a navy blue wool base sewn in place on the left side, a burlap support behind the insignia. There are two brown finished magnetic metal ventilation eyelets on the right side, plus a 12 mm wide black nylon border along the open end. The inside is lined in black cotton with stampings in white, size marked "7 1/8", maker marked "BRITISH BERET BASQUE LTD.", dated "1943", with the British Broad Arrow acceptance mark below, all within a diamond-shaped frame, a British Broad Arrow acceptance mark below the diamond, the Broad Arrow surrounded by a "N" above, a "W" to the left, a "D" to the right (WD = War Department) and "119" below. The beret measures 230 mm (w) x 255 mm (h), exhibiting light soiling and wear on the black cotton lining from active use. As worn.