Jerkin

A jerkin is a man's short close-fitting jacket, made usually of light-coloured leather, and often without sleeves, worn over the doublet in the 16th and 17th centuries.

During the First World War, the British army issued brown leather jerkins to the troops as a measure to protect against the cold and to allow freedom of movement.

[2] The jerkins from WWII had bakelite buttons instead of the brass or brown leather of the originals, and were each unique in that they were finished around the bottom edges with offcuts to eliminate waste.

Jerkins remained warm and comfortable garments to wear while fighting, working or driving, and came to characterise the British forces as a preferred alternative to the heavy greatcoats that other armies persisted with.

The garment was found to cause soldiers to overheat during strenuous activities, and very limited numbers were issued to assault troops for the Normandy landings.