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PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Military Aviation (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation-57/)
-   -   RAF Uniform for disposal (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/614443-raf-uniform-disposal.html)

Whenurhappy 17th Oct 2018 08:53
RAF Uniform for disposal
 
I'm seeking guidance on the disposal of surplus RAF uniforms. I have the following I would like to get rid of (I contacted my local Supply Section and they said they'd take them and put a knife through them):
  • No 1s - ranked for Wg Cdr, sword hooks and eppauletted size 44 long, 36 inch waist (2 sets). 1 set unranked 42 inch chest (kept in the vain attempt I'd lose weight).
  • No 2 - used blue shirts, unused trousers (with stable belt loops)
  • No 5s - ditto with eppaulettes, RE City and heavily quilted (ie stifling to wear). Two waistcoats & one white Marcella waistcoat.
  • No 6 Tropical Service Dress size 44 long, 36 inch waist (2 sets). Sword hooks, one set with separate 'stiff' eppaulettes.
  • No 6A White Tropical Ceremonial Dress. Size as above, Velcro for a half-brevet, two pairs of 34" trousers, 31". Sword under-belt.
  • No 8 White Mess Dress. Three jackets (I'm a messy eater/drinker); two pairs of lightweight mess trousers.
  • Loads of worn and unworn KD long and short sleeve shirts, 17 1/2" collars, uniform shorts and long KD trousers,
  • 2 x Great Coats
  • 1 x Postman Pat issue Hat; 1 x FS cap - hardly worn (because they look like sh!t)
  • Sword belt - I will keep my sword.
All are in good condition but have witness marks for a half-brevet, two rows of ribbons and becketts for medals. Sadly I have no need for this ephemera and no room to store it.

And for those unfamiliar/can't remember orders of dress: https://rmhistorical.com/files/conte...egulations.pdf

teeteringhead 17th Oct 2018 09:41
Your local Air Cadets/VR(T) or whatever they're called now would be grateful for the "blue" stuff. They only get one initial issue of No 1s, and No 5s are not provided!

The tropical stuff may be trickier - although the 6A is quite rare. I was getting rid of some uniforms for a deceased mate - or rather his widow - and the RAF Museum (Cosford) graetfully took it on!

Just had a thought: if your "Somewhere Sunny" should be Cyprus or Gib, then they have got Air Cadet units so my para 1 may apply. Hope this helps.

Whenurhappy 17th Oct 2018 09:46
Originally Posted by teeteringhead (Post 10285293)
Your local Air Cadets/VR(T) or whatever they're called now would be grateful for the "blue" stuff. They only get one initial issue of No 1s, and No 5s are not provided!

The tropical stuff may be trickier - although the 6A is quite rare. I was getting rid of some uniforms for a deceased mate - or rather his widow - and the RAF Museum (Cosford) graetfully took it on!

Just had a thought: if your "Somewhere Sunny" should be Cyprus or Gib, then they have got Air Cadet units so my para 1 may apply. Hope this helps.
Thanks. I'm meeting a mate tonight at the Club who is involved in his local ATC Sqn - I'll ask him. The No 6As are made to measure and jolly fine piece of kit but I doubt it will fit anyone else. Each button was something like £15! Someone has also suggested the local Rep theatre; I might ring the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, which has (tenuous) RAF connections as it was originally housed in PR trailers, and I'll be up there on the weekend. I also have several bush jackets - arguably the smartest piece of kit - sadly, obsolete.

Tankertrashnav 17th Oct 2018 10:33
The sword belt would interest a collector - I'd suggest the militaria section of ebay for that. I had little luck disposing of my uniforms of a similar vintage (R.E.City? There's a name from the past) but the SD caps found a home on ebay also.

Wensleydale 17th Oct 2018 10:59
There are a lot of re-enactor groups around Lincolnshire that would like them I am sure. Uniforms are always in demand at the 1940s weekend in Woodhall Spa for example.

kenparry 17th Oct 2018 11:01
eBay works, if all else fails. There are always people who buy uniforms to wear when they visit airshows. One sees interesting combinations - officer's uniform with airman's hat ( and vice versa); officer's uniform with airman's eagle on the sleeve, etc etc. Good luck!

MPN11 17th Oct 2018 11:52
I have a note somewhere of an outfit that buys military unirorns for filming purposes. I must try to dig it out again.

Also suffering here with No 1 and No 5 and Greatcoats ... all x2, his and hers, ranked wg cdr, no brevets or medals! Postage from Jersey will be a bit heavy, though, especially for greatcoats!!

Herc-u-lease 17th Oct 2018 11:53
The well known auction site
 
I recently sold my 1s and 5s on eBay. Put them on a 30-day buy it now with a sensible offers price and they will go. If you're wanting to do some good, give the proceeds to RAFA.

H

Pontius Navigator 17th Oct 2018 16:00
Try also vintage clothing retailers. These are always sought by 'renactors and can easily be modified to WW2 designs. I h ave seen one old boy with a most improbable array include modern ACM rank braid.
​​​​​

VinRouge 17th Oct 2018 16:26
Originally Posted by Whenurhappy (Post 10285261)
I'm seeking guidance on the disposal of surplus RAF uniforms. I have the following I would like to get rid of (I contacted my local Supply Section and they said they'd take them and put a knife through them):
  • No 1s - ranked for Wg Cdr, sword hooks and eppauletted size 44 long, 36 inch waist (2 sets). 1 set unranked 42 inch chest (kept in the vain attempt I'd lose weight).
  • No 2 - used blue shirts, unused trousers (with stable belt loops)
  • No 5s - ditto with eppaulettes, RE City and heavily quilted (ie stifling to wear). Two waistcoats & one white Marcella waistcoat.
  • No 6 Tropical Service Dress size 44 long, 36 inch waist (2 sets). Sword hooks, one set with separate 'stiff' eppaulettes.
  • No 6A White Tropical Ceremonial Dress. Size as above, Velcro for a half-brevet, two pairs of 34" trousers, 31". Sword under-belt.
  • No 8 White Mess Dress. Three jackets (I'm a messy eater/drinker); two pairs of lightweight mess trousers.
  • Loads of worn and unworn KD long and short sleeve shirts, 17 1/2" collars, uniform shorts and long KD trousers,
  • 2 x Great Coats
  • 1 x Postman Pat issue Hat; 1 x FS cap - hardly worn (because they look like sh!t)
  • Sword belt - I will keep my sword.
All are in good condition but have witness marks for a half-brevet, two rows of ribbons and becketts for medals. Sadly I have no need for this ephemera and no room to store it.

And for those unfamiliar/can't remember orders of dress: https://rmhistorical.com/files/conte...egulations.pdf
What chest size are the great coats? Like rocking horse doo do and actually a demand item imho.

I reckon worth a few Bob to an enthusiast on eBay. Also worth considering keeping the ones as an heirloom for any family, may be worth something g I .Years to come with two rows of medals and any service record.

Just a thought.

MPN11 17th Oct 2018 17:35
So many greatcoats got cut down to British Warms in my day. Ours are virgo intacto ;)

Pontius Navigator 17th Oct 2018 18:12
I had a job with frequent travel so the British Warm gave me a good winter coat for traveling and a warm uniform cost at work. I think moths got it in the end.

jindabyne 17th Oct 2018 18:45
I'll wear mine en-route to the crem!

tmmorris 17th Oct 2018 20:21
These people?

https://www.cetomilitaria.co.uk/

Tankertrashnav 17th Oct 2018 23:05
So many greatcoats got cut down to British Warms in my day.
And what an abortion they looked compared to the original army style. The RAF just didnt get the idea of the British warm and insisted that they had rank braid on the epaulette, and RAF buttons, whereas the army version doesn't have rank and has leather buttons and can therefore be worn in civvies. All in all a complete waste of a bloody good coat and I really wished I had never had mine done.

Tinman74 17th Oct 2018 23:21
I’ll have one of the great coats, please.

Whenurhappy 18th Oct 2018 06:41
Originally Posted by VinRouge (Post 10285583)
What chest size are the great coats? Like rocking horse doo do and actually a demand item imho.

I reckon worth a few Bob to an enthusiast on eBay. Also worth considering keeping the ones as an heirloom for any family, may be worth something g I .Years to come with two rows of medals and any service record.

Just a thought.
The great coats are 42 inch chest. I’m considering retaining one set of No 1s which are up to date with ribbons etc, but my recent diagnosis of advanced (Stage IV) lung cancer (and no, I’ve never smoked) means I’m trying to get my house in order and reduce the enormous amount of stuff I have (and lets not mention the tankards, hip flasks, framed photos, plaques etc that I need to find a home for). It pains me to get rid of this ephemera but there is little point keeping it in trunks, never to see the light of day. And it means nothing to others. And the kids can’t take it; son has just started at university and daughter is still at school.

I’ve also been an avid collector of nautical navigation equipment (compasses, sextants etc) which is proving to be quite collectible by others. We simply do not have the room to keep all my stuff and I want to reduce the burden on others in the future whilst I have the wherewithal to do so.

This is also accounts for those who know me why I’ve not been seen around the MOD or FCO, or on industry meetings for several months. That and I’ve grown a hipster beard 🧔

Pontius Navigator 18th Oct 2018 08:22
WUH, sad to hear that. From what you say all your ephemera could be turned into hard cash. Even stuff just kicking around in a drawer, just in case, has a value to someone. Some things have obvious value and others apparently none. However to give two examples of the latter: a compass corrector key that I had for 50 years and a RNZAF metal nav never given to me in 1973 turned out to be 1944. The first went locally and the other to Oz.

it takes a little work photographing and marketing but it is money in the bank.

MPN11 18th Oct 2018 08:37
WUH ... sorry to hear about your diagnosis. That resonates with me, as I've just had a brush with Prostate C [and won]. https://prostatecancer209686453.wordpress.com

I am, however, also looking to clear out some of the accumulation of 74 years. With an ex-RAF wife, we've clocked up 55 years in light blue and there's a bunch of uniforms I'd like to get rid of. tmmorris has provided a useful link, so I may start exploring that particular route. I've just shipped out our lifetime collection of unit plaques to a guy on eBay who sells this stuff: they're been sat in the attic still in their packing from when we moved here 13 years ago, and we really don't have a place for them in this house (and who else cares!). I'm now four hundred wine-tokens richer! :)

https://i.imgur.com/c1c92gG.jpg

ricardian 18th Oct 2018 09:22
£8 for ONE collar! Various other bits of RAF uniform are for sale on that site.


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