Description
Physical description
Single-breasted Battledress blouse of bronze-green serge with stand & fall collar, fly-fronted, with pleated breast pockets & concealed buttons. Worsted rank badges embroidered on a red field are sewn to the epaulettes (King's Crown), secured by leather football buttons. To the upper sleeves cloth shoulder titles with the text, 'ROYAL ARTILLERY' are machined in red on midnight blue. To the left forearm, the patch of the Army Film & Photographic Service, machined in coloured threads on a midnight blue square-shaped field. Avoce the left breatr pocket are the ribbons of the following awards: Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star (metal '8'); Burma Star; Italy Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; grey ribbon (MiD emblem).
There is mothing to the lower right back, and both shoulders, but remains displayable.
Label
Canadian pattern Battledress uniform blouse worn by a Lieutenant Colonel originally of the Royal Artillery, serving with the Army Film & Photographic Service.
The Army Film & Photographic Units were formed under the under the control of the Director of Public Relations at the War Office. Units of the AFPU went on to serve in all theatres of war, and an Army Film & Photographic Centre was located in the UK. Comprising a variety of roles, skilled specialists included cameramen, developers, camera mechanics, and administrative personnel.
Responsible for recording active service on film and photograph, teams were frequently in the front line taking the same risks as the combat arms of the Army. Such films as 'Desert Victory', 'Tunisian Victory', 'The True Glory', and 'Burma Victory' rank among the many official cinema documentaries credited to the AFPU.
(Within the right breast pocket is a business card with three oriental characters - with English language translation printed beneath, "Foo Hee Seng". On the reverse of the card the name, "Capt. Bethell" is written in pencil).