The Canadian Provost Corps
1946 - 1968
Winter Greatcoats
Other Ranks
The greatcoat issued to Other Ranks was the Greatcoat, Army 49 Pattern. It was of far better quality than the Other Rank's greatcoat of the Second World War, of fuller cut and made of much finer wool. As it's designation suggests, it was adopted in 1949 and was issued until replaced by the CF Green Greatcoat in the 1970s.
It was double breasted, with an 8 button front, the top two buttons were concealed by the stepped lapels which formed a collar when closed at the neck.
It had two large exterior pockets covered by diagonal flaps. The greatcoat had a stitched, buttonless, non adjustable half belt at the back. The length of the Greatcoat from the bottom edge was to be no less than 13 inches and no more than 17 inches from the ground.
The illustrated example is that of a Lance Corporal, circa 1955. Cloth shoulder titles are sewn at the top of each sleeve and the rank insignia has been whitened.
The collar folded back showing the concealed button.
Typical Greatcoat label.
Officers
Officer Pattern Greatcoat of a Captain circa 1954. Note the location of the buttons and the method of fastening compared with the Other Rank's coat.
1954 Dress Regulations permitted Officers to purchase and wear the issue greatcoat if desired.
Metal rank insignia was worn on the epaulettes and cloth shoulder titles were sewn along the shoulder seam. Brass C PRO C pattern buttons are worn.
The Officer pattern greatcoat had three buttoned half belt at the back.
British Warm Coat
The British Warm Coat was a high quality knee length winter coat, double breasted and made of melton wool or frieze. It had six buttons down the front, one button on each epaulette and two small buttons on each cuff. All buttons were of leather.
The colour of the coat was a distinctive shade of light drab, almost a fawn or beige. According to dress regulations it could be worn by Generals, Brigadiers and Colonels at any time but was not to be worn by other Officers when on parade with troops.
It was an article of dress which could be worn while in uniform or civilian clothes. When it was worn as a civilian coat, badges of rank were removed. In order to facilitate this, most Officers wore their rank badges on removable epaulette slides.
The epaulette slides of a Colonel as worn on the British Warm.
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