Uniform and Equipment

General

Ranks and duties of the wartime soldier were indicated by sleeve insignia patches and tabs. The dress uniform was not used in wartime, and the usual dress for officers was service dress for evening wear, and battle dress (adopted in 1939) for daytime. The uniform was the same for officers and enlisted men, and the only official dress for enlisted men.

Battle Dress

Two piece khaki serge, long, rather baggy trousers with web anklets worn. The blouse fastened to the throat, was waist length, with two breast pockets and made of the same khaki serge as the trousers. This blouse fastened to the inside of the trousers, and taken in at the waist by a right hand fastening cloth belt. A khaki shirt was worn under the blouse, and for officers who could unbutton the top two buttons of the blouse was tied with a khaki necktie. Enlisted men have the blouse buttoned to the throat. Head dress of a field service cap, was replaced under active service or when ordered by a steel helmet.

On the field service cap regimental or corps insignia patches are worn, and painted on the steel helmet. Directly below the shoulder, on the upper left arm all ranks wore divisional, army corps, insignia as shown below.

Left Arm Upper sleeve (battle dress) of 46 div. RASC