An original pair of WW2 British Army cold weather mittens, clearly dated 1944 and retaining their original wartime construction.

The hand sections are made from leather or a similar leather-type material, while the long cuffs are constructed from fabric and extend well beyond the wrist for additional protection. The pair remains connected by its original white herringbone tape, which is a particularly good surviving feature and helps show how the mittens were intended to be kept together when issued and worn.

The markings are one of the strongest points of the pair. Inside the cuff is a faded wartime ink stamp which still clearly shows the date 1944 together with the War Department broad arrow. “Liverpool” is also legible, along with the ending “& Sons Ltd” from the manufacturer’s name. The first part of the maker’s name has faded considerably and cannot now be read with certainty, although it appears to begin with J. H. No attempt has therefore been made to attribute the mittens to a specific manufacturer beyond the markings which can still be confidently identified.

Mittens of this type were issued for cold-weather military duties, where personnel could be exposed to the elements for extended periods. Similar wartime examples are known in British Army and ATS use, including personnel serving on anti-aircraft and other outdoor duties during WW2.

Condition is good for their age, with the expected surface wear, staining and signs of service use across both the hand sections and fabric cuffs. The pair remains complete, the stitching is largely intact, and the original herringbone joining tape is still present. The faded markings are still sufficiently visible to retain the important 1944 date, broad arrow and Liverpool manufacturer details.

A very good original pair of 1944-dated British military mittens with strong wartime markings and plenty of period character.