3 - Veterans

Summary

The demob suit remains an icon of late 1940s fashion, in museums and popular culture. On demobilization, British servicemen received a new wardrobe gratis. It comprised a suit or jacket and trousers, plus a raincoat, shirts, collars, shoes and hat – the ‘full monty’. Why did the British government reward men for their military service in this way? Since the other victorious Allies did not treat their veterans so generously in sartorial terms, British ex-servicemen’s material entitlement requires discussion. This chapter analyses the inter-departmental tussle in Whitehall over veterans’ clothing. Debate centred not only on what, and how much, clothing ex-servicemen would receive, but also on which items of military kit they’d have to ‘surrender’. The chapter explores veterans’ complex feelings about demobilization and the role clothing played in the transition to civvy street. It also scrutinizes the claim that demob suits were a democratizing device. Not only were some garments better than others, but also the decision to reward servicemen with a whole new wardrobe left servicewomen empty-handed, bar coupons and cash. Other women who’d performed vital war work went unrewarded.