What do I have here? WW2 style UK Windproof smock

I've had this thing for a very, very long time.  I've never known what to make of it.  It's made from genuine Belgian canvas type Brush camouflage cloth, but it is the style of a British WW2 Windproof smock.

The basic item is professionally made.  See the examples of the attention to detail on the inside.  It's solid work that screams "factory made".  Not only that, but the quality and attention to detail indicates it is not purely commercial. But the hood is a roughly done "field made" modification.  I have no idea what it might be, but I'm pretty sure I saw a picture of a similar one in Borsarello's "European" book (I don't know where mine is right now).

First shot is of the front (it is a pull over)
Second shot shows the lower hem with drawstring and size tag
Third shot shows detail of interior pocket reinforcement
Fourth shot shows the inside of the hood's neck area









Steve

It does look to be quite well made, but I have never seen one before in my Belgian travels. Then again, there seems to be an endless number of variations of Belgian camouflage smocks.

I have a similar Belgian smock. It is made of lightweight material in the same WW2 UK "over the head" style. I will find it and post pics. I think it has labels.

Ooo! Sounds like a promising lead.

Yeah, I've never seen another one like this except for the one in Borsarello's NATO book. Which, if I could find it, would be nice to compare against!

Steve

another here, found in my city around 25 years ago

http://vonstuckcamouflage.free.fr/various-camouflages.php

Steve, I checked my older Belgian Smocks and I do not have one like the one you showed. All mine have zip necks. However, one of the ones I pulled out was so nice and crisp that I thought I would share a photo!

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Thanks for the follow up.

For sure it is not Belgian Army or Navy issue. Of that I'm completely sure of. It could be some sort of limited mission specific item, but I doubt that the Belgians would pattern it after WW2 Windproof.

The small military style size tag in the hem, plus the obvious quality construction (not the hood!!), makes me think that this was not a commercial item or a one off. The best guess so far is that it was for Spanish forces, but even then I'm hesitant since the cut doesn't conform to photographs of them in use. The ones that do are of really poor quality, not like this one at all.

In my view this is still a mystery item with direct ties to some sort of government force.

Steve

Found this thread while Googling something else. Thought I'd update it to say that someone, in a different thread, identified this as a legitimate unit made item from the 1950s. Pictures of in use can be found in this thread:

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t13470-my-belgian-collection

Steve