Denims

As near as I can tell, denims didn't arrive until a year or so after the woolen BD was introduced. So I would presume that their use as a work coverall would likely be sometime after 1939. They didn't exist prior to woolen BD insofar as I know as they would have been ridiculous if worn over the old 4-pocket battledress uniform.

I have several examples of the green denims made in the original pattern with pocket pleats and the earliest example I've personally handled was 1941. The final pattern was a year later obviously following the economy measures of the woolen blouse.

The color change continues to baffle me. As noted, at some late point the brown and green were around at the same time and sharing the same early pattern. One can only surmise that the change occurred in some official capacity. From the RAF side of things, aircraft schemes changed from green and brown camo to green and grey camo around the same time (1941) but I wouldn't put much faith in the two having any relation to each other.

These were never intended as combat garments so their color would have little relationship to concealment in the field and brown would seem a more logical choice to hiding dirt/stains than the green versions.

If anyone could post images of their brown denim blouses, I'd like to see them. Particularly if their labels are intact. I have one example in storage and I've not gone digging for it as I know the label is completely illegible.