Originally Posted by
MPN11
Issue?!!! When did officers get ‘issued’ ... one purchased from one’s tailor, especially Mess Dress, from HMG’s bounteous Officers Commisioning Allowance and subsequent Tax relief!!
OK, some cheap and nasty stuff was available for Stores on repayment, but that wasn’t officers clothing.
Yes issued. Not sure about No 5 but I was appalled when I discovered they issued No 1 off the peg. I too remember the various military tailors lining up for orders, City, Alkit, Grieves, Moss Bros. I think our respective flt cdrs steered us to particular tailors. Later, they were present out our fitting before allowing us to accept the uniform. Mine was quite loose - "you'll grow into it". I did, it lasted 12 years before I bought one from an officer soon to retire. It then lasted a lot longer.