Gen. Montgomery

[berserker3]

Hi all. I´ve always thought that the RAF flying jacket was only issued to RAF personal. But this morning I saw a documentary about WW2 and the battle at Caen, in ´43 I think it was. There were some short glimpses of general Montgomery wearing a beautiful sheepskin jacket. Could someone clear this up for me? :?
Kind regards
Mike

 

[MikeyB-17]

This one?

It's an RAF Irvin all right-I imagine if you were of high enough rank you could get your hands on most things with a bit of string-pulling. There are pictures of Patton wearing a B-3 too, and of course MacArthur's A-2 is pretty well-known.

 

[berserker3]

Hi Mikey. Yes, that´s the one alright. Awsome jacket! Thanks for responding!
Kind regards
Mike

 

[Roughwear]

Here are a couple of other pictures of the same jacket. It most likely dates from 1941-2 and and with the very narrow belt loops and collar shape suggests it may be the work of DGL London.

 

[Hawkeye]

Being a Field Marshall would have its advantages, though Im sure it wouldnt have been hard for a man of his rank to acquire an item that was being issued by the thousands to the RAF anyways. I love the painting of Montgomery wearing his Irvin thats in the National Portait Gallery, i had a chance to see it in person a couple years ago on my trip to England. Only problem is the artist painted the Irvin about 3 sizes larger than the one Monty wore in real life!

Edit: I just noticed in the first photo, Monty has the jacket fastned by only the belt, the main zip isnt done up at all! Pretty peculiar, zipper trouble perhaps?

 

[John Lever]

He gave it to a local ploughman after the war. He had a house not far from here in Isington Hampshire,and used to watch a poor farmer struggling in the fields in cold wet weather. He felt sorry for him, and he walked over and just gave him the jacket. A couple of years ago the relatives of the Farmer sold it at auction at Christies or Sotherbies.

 

[Dr H]

He gave it to a local ploughman after the war. He had a house not far from here in Isington Hampshire,and used to watch a poor farmer struggling in the fields in cold wet weather. He felt sorry for him, and he walked over and just gave him the jacket. A couple of years ago the relatives of the Farmer sold it at auction at Christies or Sotherbies.

John
Thanks for the information about Monty. I'm not far from Isington either (near Fleet) and hadn't appreciated Montgomery's link with the area. There's a fine image of his former home (Isington Mill - an oast house) at http://www.ifimages.com/public/image/648796/view.html. Looks idyllic
Ian

 

[berserker3]

Hi guys. I must say that I am, as always, in total awe of the level of knowledge that you guys have! I mean, is there anyone in this world who knows as much about WW2 leather jacket as you gentlemen? I think not! Have a great weekend, guys!
Kind regards
Mike

 

[havocpaul]

Many senior ranks in the British forces were able to obtain Irvins in the same way Patton had a B-3 and Airborne officers had A-2's. I have seen some photos of Canadian officers wearing Irvin-type jackets with pockets which might have been rigger-modified or private purchase jackets.

 

[Anonymous]

General Montgomery was one of the only guys allowed to wear 2 regiment badges on his beret at the same time .

All the best Jeff

 

[John Lever]

This is of interest -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MONTGOMERY-OF-ALA ... 240%3A1318

 

[Roughwear]

Interesting John. The document doesn't actually say its his Irvin. He had other jackets as well. Mostly likely his 1941-2 pattern Irvin.

 

[Hawkeye]

I saw that document sometime last week. If you look in the corner its dated 1946, and the impression I got was that this was a delivery of a new jacket, so if Im right it would not be one of the irvins he was photographed wearing during the war.

 

[deeb7]

... the impression I got was that this was a delivery of a new jacket, so if Im right it would not be one of the irvins he was photographed wearing during the war.

Or merely a note to provide a jacket for the duration of the flight, nothing more than ensuring that a VIP passenger was comfortable.

 

[Roughwear]

This item was listed earlier and didn't sell. Perhaps only a passionate Monty fan would pay £50 for it?

 

[Lignemaginot]

And let's not forget Ike in his B-10.