kammo-man Posted May 21, 2019 Share #1 Posted May 21, 2019 Frederick Boy Browning is considered the father of the British Airborne forces. Here is a Windak Denison custom smock that was given to a US 10th group officer in 1984 by his widow the author Daphne De Maurier. Browning was known for his love of special uniforms and it’s my opinion he contracted these officers issue garments through an AM contact as special officer items. Here’s the jacket Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
kammo-man Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted May 21, 2019 And the rear showing pattern The Windak cloth is a rayon blend. The hand washed color is light giving the garment a very unique color way Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Here’s Browning wearing one of his Windak smocks during Market Garden Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk And another Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Here’s the Big boss Monty in one Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You can see the knitted collar easily here. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Here’s the collar of the Browning smock complete with makers labels. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The Windak beside a regular issue smock Easy to see the difference when shown like this Enjoy Owen Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Another officer wearing his Windak with flat cap probably post war. Strafford. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The Browning smock numbered 1- 154 Probably the first on in the series Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk And the AM zipper Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
Eric Queen Posted May 22, 2019 Share #3 Posted May 22, 2019 That's a beautiful smock O. A pleasure to see it. In your estimation what would the rarity factor be between the Windak and standard made smocks? 10 to 1? 100 to 1? Link to comment
kammo-man Posted May 22, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted May 22, 2019 E Thanks it’s a cracker It’s numbered 154-1 I believe they made 154 in the officer production run. Compared to tens of thousands of normal production It’s that rare O Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
Eric Queen Posted May 22, 2019 Share #5 Posted May 22, 2019 That is rare indeed. The history that comes with it sends it over the top. Thanks. Learned something. Link to comment
kammo-man Posted May 22, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted May 22, 2019 E There’s more story Pm me O Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
vintageproductions Posted May 23, 2019 Share #7 Posted May 23, 2019 In person this smock is beyond amazing. Link to comment
Eric Queen Posted June 12, 2019 Share #8 Posted June 12, 2019 O What are your thoughts on this smock? Not mint and overpriced (IMO) but historically very cool if it is what they say it is. https://www.emedals.com/canada-a-denison-smock-of-sergeant-gus-parker-1st-canadian-parachute-battalion-d-day-invasion Link to comment
kammo-man Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted June 14, 2019 E , No doub a 100% real smock. It appears to have battle damage to the front. Hopefully the story is beyond true as we have no reason to doubt it at all. A D-Day Denison is a unique item indeed. Priced high yes, its one that belongs in the Canadian war museum, I have been there and its a great visit. owen Link to comment
edstorey Posted June 15, 2019 Share #10 Posted June 15, 2019 A nice Smock, but the SB prefixed service number indicates that WOII Parker was serving in the post-SWW Army. Doubtful this Denison ever saw Normandy service as wartime smocks were issued after the war to the Mobile Strike Force and it is was standard practice to stencil the service number and name onto the inside of the garment. The fact that Sgt Parker was wounded in Normandy and invalided back to England should also be a good indicator that this is not his wartime Normandy Denison. Link to comment
kammo-man Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted June 15, 2019 I bow to your knowledge Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment
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