SOLD WW2 USMC 1st Marine Division AU made Field Jacket . UA1295

United States Marine Corps (USMC) WW2 1st Marine Division Australian made “Ike” Field Jacket. One sleeve has an Australian made 1st Marine Division shoulder sleeve insignia (patch) on upper portion of sleeve and Corporal cloth sleeve rank insignia below. There is a set of enlisted metal EGA insignia on collar area. Also, there is a six 6 place ribbon bar above the one pocket. Interior marker tag is marked: V188 Made in Australia 1942 Size, and what looks like three initials written in each which appears to be: JJC. Also, on other side of interior appears to be the soldier’s name in ink, a bit hard to read, however, appears to be: J.J. Ch?ssidy. A worn condition ww2 Australian made Field Jacket “Battle Jacket” with several moth nips and old repairs (appear to have been worn quite a bit) and a nice 1st Marine Division patch.

Additional Notes: The Eisenhower jacket also known as “Ike” jacket, officially listed as the Jacket, Field, Wool, Olive Drab, is a type of waist length jacket developed for the US. Army during the later stages of WW2 and named after Dwight Eisenhower. Intended to be worn on its own or as an insulating layer beneath the M-1943 Field Jacket and over the standard wool flannel shirt and wool sweater, it featured a pleated back, adjustable waist band, fly front buttons, bellows chest pockets, slash side pockets, and shoulder straps.

Between 1941 and 1945, several hundred thousand US service personnel were based in or transited through Australia. Melbourne became an important base area for US military personnel after General Douglas MacArthur established his headquarters in March 1942. By June 1942 an estimated 30,000 US servicemen were based in Melbourne. Many of these men moved north as the war in the Pacific progressed but in January-June 1943 the US First Marine Division was rested in Melbourne after being withdrawn from Guadalcanal where the Division had landed in August 1942. The Marines were quartered at the MCG and Balcombe army camp near Mornington and many forged strong bonds with Melbourne during this period. These type field “battle” jackets were made in Australia for the US Marine Corps (most likely in Melbourne) in 1943 based on the short British/Australian battledress jacket. It was known as the “Vandegrift jacket”, of reverse lend-lease where Australia supplied equipment and food to US service personnel based in Australia and the Pacific.

See Additional Information for shipping dimensions.