Provenanced Chindit BD Blouse and Slouch Hat. Essex Regiment.

An excellent and completely untouched collection of uniform and photograph items, belonging to Private William Edward Parker 14303902 who served with the 1st Battalion, the Essex Regiment as a Chindit in Burma.

The Chindits were the largest of the Allied Special Forces. They were trained in guerrilla warfare in order to cope with the dense Japanese-occupied rainforest in Burma and were formed in Jhansi, India, in September 1943 as a long-range penetration force.

Joining the army in 1942, Bill had previously been in the Home Guard and the collection includes a photocopy of a letter from the O/C A Coy 27th Battalion West Riding Home Guard admonishing him for not attending recruit training.

The Battledress Blouse is a very early example of the 1937 pattern Blouse and is the exact Blouse worn by Bill Parker in his later years in the accompanying colour photograph. The medal bar shown in the photograph and worn below the 39-45 and Burma Star ribbons, was found in one of the pockets, and is included

Free from moth or other damage, it shows salt stains from sweat, the drill part lining, grubby. On the lower right sleeve are the four inverted red chevrons of overseas service, the embroidered shoulder title of the Essex Regiment and of course the embroidered Chindit Arm Badge in gold, black & red embroidery on circle of blue felt. The Chindit name was derived from ‘Chinthe’, a mythical beast represented as half lion, half griffin, guardian of Buddhist temples.

On the lower left sleeve is a good conduct chevron below his Bren Gunner’s badge, the second Essex Regiment shoulder title at the shoulder and a purple lanyard looped through the shoulder strap.

All the brass buttons are in place. He has had a drill lining added at the collar  reaching down to the second button, for comfort and appearance, the Blouses of course not worn in the Jungle.

Inside, Bill has demonstrated the artistic talent for which he became well known in later years as a newspaper cutting included shows. He has written his details, later added his service details by hand and profusely stamped his service number in two places, theft of uniform items being a problem at that time. There are two inside pockets and the remains of the label.

For me, the Slouch hat is a gem. Stained and grubby, there are four vent holes around the top of the crown which perhaps once held eyelets. At the base of the crown is a white twisted cord sitting  below the Puggaree. The left side of the brim is held up by a single Newey press fastener and an Essex Regiment slider Cap Badge sits on a faded regimental diamond. Attached to the right side of the crown is a faded Chindit badge in gold bullion wire. Inside, the leather sweatband remains, the 1943 date clear, the chinstrap replaced by what appears to be part of some 44 pattern equipment. The last three of his service numbers appear in the brim.

Included are a number of copy photographs and four original photographs, showing both service with the Chindits and the 36th Indian Division.

Such provenanced and unmolested collections are now extremely difficult to find, especially to such a distinguished Special Forces unit.

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