ARP Pattern 65 Duffle Coat

A jacket recently appeared on eBay with a maker's label denoting it as "Coats, Duffle ARP 65". It was of a jacket I had not previously seen before. I am indebted to Jon Mills for sharing the below images of the said jacket being worn by members of the Civil Defence Reserve. A similar style jacket was also issued to the army. At time of writing the example on eBay had reached over £600.

After close scrutiny of the photo I believe that this group of men belong to the No. 1 Overseas Column of the Civil Defence Reserve. The chap in battledress on the right appears to have additional insignia above his rank chevrons and I believe this is the 21st Army Group shield insignia. I have a previous posts about the Overseas Column and its work in Belgium in 1945.

Civil Defence Reserve members wearing the ARP Pattern 65 Duffle Coat

The ARP Pattern 65 Duffle Coat held by the Post Office archives

Maker's label for the ARP Pattern 65 duffle coat