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First World War Waistcoat

As featured in the new National Trust book, 100 Things to Wear, this unusual waistcoat originally belonged to Navy signaller Harrie Joseph (1887–1957), who convalesced at Hatchlands after suffering shellshock in 1916.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event (admission applies)

This waistcoat was one of 11, 000 made from donated leather gloves and given to sailors and soldiers serving in the First World War. They were made by members of the Ladies’ Territorial Committee, whose appeal requesting old leather gloves was published in the press. A tiny mark indicates that this was the 900th waistcoat made by the committee. Later, Harrie Joseph gave the waistcoat to his daughter Lorna, who used it to keep warm during fire-watch duty throughout the Second World War.

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