A very good WW1 British Army Leather Jerkin. Introduced by the British Army in 1915 for trench wear, the Leather Jerkin proved very popular. Today examples in good condition such as this are difficult to come by.
The WW1 Leather Jerkin differs from its WW2 counterpart in several notable ways. Instead of plastic, the closure buttons are leather and removal, these held on with circular ring pins. Also, on WW1 examples the woollen lining is not khaki, but instead the colour found is dark blue, charcoal or grey/oatmeal such as here. Finally, the leather body on WW1 examples is very often partially made of offcuts. Here this is noticeable on the right shoulder as viewed.
Overall condition is good with just the old scuff to the leather and moth to the lining along with some restitching. The middle back of the lining has affixed a small piece of white cotton with the number “5” upon it. I believe this to be the remains of a size label.
An archetypal WW1 British trench piece.
