A scarce and highly desirable WW2 Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Leather Jerkin, produced under War Office contract by Hector Powe Ltd. ATS jerkins are significantly less common than the standard men’s pattern and were issued primarily to drivers, mechanics, searchlight crews and other technical personnel throughout the war.

This example displays all the correct features unique to women’s issue jerkins, including the factory-sewn rear waist belt, more shaped waist, narrower arm openings and the slightly offset front buttoning. These construction traits are characteristic of the early ATS pattern and differ noticeably from the boxier, belt-less men’s Army jerkin. The leather itself has the distinctive early-war mottled, multi-panel appearance, created by the use of mixed hides and uneven dye absorption during wartime production — a finish strongly associated with 1940–41 manufacture.

Inside, the printed label states “Jerkin, Leather, A.T.S., Size No. 7” with height and bust ranges, the maker’s details, the War Department broad arrow and a faint 1941 date. Although the printed date is light, the maker provides a much firmer indicator: Hector Powe is known to have produced ATS leather jerkins during the 1940–41 contract period only, and is not associated with the later 1942 production run. The pattern, label style and material all align precisely with this early wartime output. Two period ink marks are present — a circular depot or inspector’s stamp beneath the label, and a smudged date stamp across the size line, almost certainly reading “July 1941” — both consistent with wartime inspection and handling.

This is an excellent and increasingly difficult-to-find example of ATS cold-weather clothing, ideal for collectors of women’s service uniforms, British Home Front material and early-war uniform development.

This jerkin is guaranteed original WW2 manufacture. The Hector Powe label, early ATS pattern, distinct women’s tailoring features and surviving wartime inspection stamps together provide strong, multi-point authentication of this piece as a genuine and early-production 1941 ATS-issue leather jerkin.