A Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Battledress Uniform 1943

Canada; Includes battledress blouse and pants. The battledress blouse is wool with a green tinge to the darker khaki colour, giving it that distinctive Canadian-look versus the British version, of which the Canadian one is patterned after. The blouse is adorned with "R.C.E.M.E. CANADA" shoulder flashes, incorporating yellow embroidered lettering on a blue wool base, above 1st Canadian Army formation patches on both shoulders, the patches in red and blue wool. There are button down epaulet straps on each shoulder, which are held in place via brown plastic buttons. There is a dual hook and and eye at the collar, ensuring a snug fit at the neckline. The front has two pockets, one on each breast which have decorative straps giving them a pleated-look with olive green metal buttons at the top. Each pocket has a fold over flap and when lifted up, exposes a reinforced button hole. When the buttons are fastened, they remain invisible to the eye, covered by the flaps. The front is completed by a vertical row of five olive green metal buttons on the right side, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left, similarly covered by a full-length flap, again remaining invisible to the eye. Along the waistline at the front is a strap on the left side, and when fed through the metal belt loop on the right side, ensures a snug fit at the waist. Each armpit comes with three reinforced ventilation holes. In addition, on the right sleeve above the cuff is a Hammer and Pincer insignia in brown and beige embroidery, on a brown wool base. Both sleeves have button down cuffs with olive green metal buttons on both sides, and when fastened, again are invisible to the eye. Inside, the waistline is reinforced with a 72 mm wide cotton band, with three reinforced buttonholes at the rear. The inside lapel on both sides have deep cotton-lined pockets with side entries, the right one stamped in black ink with a Canadian Broad Arrow insignia below the mark "BATTLE DRESS BLOUSE SERGE / SIZE No. 9 / HEIGHT 5'7" to 5'8" / BREAST - 39" to 40", maker marked "Master Craft Uniform Co. Reg'd.", dated "1943" and stamped "APR" (April). It is also stamped "DT3103" on the reinforced panel on the right side opening. The blouse measures 460 mm across the shoulders and 510 mm in length overall. The matching pants come with a button down fly, with two olive green metal buttons, along with two replacement black metal buttons on the right side facing reinforced button holes on the left side. There are four button down belt loop straps along the back with single olive green metal buttons sewn along the waistline between each of the loops. It has five pockets, one on each side at the front with a traditional hip-side entry and one on the right seat which has an olive green metal button and button down flap, all of which are cotton-lined, along with two other un-lined pockets on the upper thighs, a small partially pleated pocket on the right thigh, a large deep pocket on the left thigh, both with olive green metal buttons, the left one with a flap and housing two independent straps in light brown wool, the straps measuring 40 mm x 1,120 mm and 40 mm x 1,150 mm respectively. When lifted up, the two flaps expose a reinforced button hole. When the buttons are fastened, they remain invisible to the eye, covered by the flaps, as per the blouse. Each cuff has a button down design, with a tab and three olive green metal buttons. Inside, the waistline has six olive green metal buttons spaced at various intervals and is stamped in black ink on the left side waistband with the Canadian Broad Arrow insignia and a large "8" size stamping beside a faded mark, the pocket below with faded size Height, Waist and Breech stampings, along with a faded maker stamping and marked "JUNE" beside a faded date. The pants measure 880 mm in the waist x 1,100 mm in length overall. The uniform has been cleaned by a previous owner, the blouse exhibiting a few holes on either side of the central rear seam, the pants with separation evident at the rear seam at the waist, along with light soiling and wear in the cotton lining on the right side pocket. It displays nice texture and quality workmanship, retaining its original look through quality stitching and the high grade materials used. As worn.