Understanding British War Department Date Stamps

Being able to accurately date British military uniforms is one of the most useful skills a militaria collector can learn. Whether you've picked up a Battledress blouse, greatcoat, trousers or another piece of British Army clothing, the markings found inside can reveal a surprising amount about its history.

During the Second World War, and for many years afterwards, the British War Department used a standardised system of labels and acceptance stamps on military uniforms. When these markings survive, they can tell us the type of uniform, the manufacturer, size and, most importantly, when it entered military service.

Unfortunately, after 80 years or more, many original labels have faded, become damaged or disappeared altogether. Sweat, washing, storage and wartime use have all taken their toll, leaving collectors with little more than the uniform itself to identify.

Fortunately, there is another marking that often survives where the label does not.

What is the War Department (W.D.) or Broad Arrow Stamp?

Most British military uniforms were inspected and accepted by the War Department before being issued. Once approved, they received the famous Broad Arrow acceptance stamp, usually accompanied by a letter code.

Collectors will often refer to this simply as the W.D. stamp, although many also know it as the Broad Arrow mark. The stamp is normally found on the inside lining of a uniform, often hidden beneath a pocket, inside the body lining or on the reverse of the cloth.

The Broad Arrow itself has been used by the British Government for centuries to denote Crown property. By the Second World War it had become a familiar sight on everything from uniforms and webbing to helmets, tools, ammunition boxes and countless other pieces of military equipment. Seeing this mark is often one of the first signs that an item is genuine military issue.

Alongside the Broad Arrow from the WW2 era is usually a single letter. This letter represents the year the item was accepted by the War Department, making it an invaluable reference when identifying British military uniforms.

Understanding the War Department Letter Codes

The lettering system is not quite as straightforward as many collectors expect. Unlike serial numbers or dates, the letters do not simply run through the alphabet. To make matters even more confusing, several letters were reused during the post-war period.

For this reason, the acceptance stamp should never be used on its own. Instead, it should be considered alongside the pattern, construction and features of the uniform. In most cases, these details make it possible to determine which year the letter represents.

Thanks to decades of research by collectors and military historians, the following guide has become the accepted reference for decoding these War Department date stamps.

British War Department Date Stamp Guide

Dating a British Uniform

Let's look at a practical example.

Imagine you have a British Battledress blouse with no readable manufacturer's label. This is a common situation, particularly with uniforms that saw heavy wartime service or have spent decades in storage.

Although the paper / cloth label has disappeared, the War Department acceptance stamp remains clearly visible on the lining. The stamp shows the Broad Arrow together with the letter N.

Referring back to the guide above, we can see that N corresponds to 1943.

That is only part of the story though. The blouse itself also displays the features associated with the early 1940 Pattern Battledress, including its lined collar. By combining the construction details with the War Department stamp, we can confidently identify the uniform as an early 1940 production example dating from the year the pattern was introduced.

This is why experienced collectors always examine both the physical characteristics of a uniform and its markings together rather than relying on a single feature.

The below image is a prime example of this. The label is still present which makes things clear. But let's assume the label is missing, the WD stamp is letter O. This could be 1942, but it could also be 1955. The Battledress is a 1949 pattern and if you know the pattern differences, it is easy to identify. But this shows why it is important not to rely solely on the WD stamp. 

A Simple Tool Every British Militaria Collector Should Know

War Department acceptance stamps are one of the quickest and most reliable ways of dating British military uniforms when original labels are missing. While the lettering system may seem confusing at first, it becomes much easier once you understand how it works and learn to compare the stamp with the pattern of the uniform itself.

Like many areas of militaria collecting, our understanding of these markings comes from years of research carried out by dedicated collectors and historians. Their work has helped build the dating guide above, and it continues to be an invaluable reference for anyone collecting British military uniforms.

We hope this guide proves useful the next time you're examining a piece of British military clothing. A quick look inside a uniform could reveal far more about its history than you first expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Broad Arrow on British military uniforms?

The Broad Arrow is the traditional symbol used by the British Government to mark Crown property. On military equipment, it indicates that an item was officially accepted for government service. During the First and Second World Wars, the Broad Arrow can be found on uniforms, webbing, helmets, equipment, ammunition boxes and countless other pieces of British military issue.

What does the letter next to the Broad Arrow mean?

The letter found alongside the Broad Arrow is a War Department acceptance code. It represents the year that the uniform or equipment was accepted into military service. By comparing the letter with the dating guide above, collectors can often determine when a uniform was manufactured or accepted.

Are War Department date stamps always accurate?

They are one of the best dating tools available, but they should never be relied upon in isolation. Some letters were reused during the post-war years, so the construction, pattern and other features of the uniform should always be considered alongside the stamp.

Where can I find the War Department stamp?

On British military uniforms, the stamp is most commonly found on the inside lining. Depending on the type of uniform, it may be located beneath a pocket, inside the body lining, inside a sleeve or on another internal section of the garment. It is usually applied in black ink, although the clarity can vary depending on age and wear.

Can I date British military uniforms without the original label?

Yes. Many wartime uniforms have lost their original manufacturer's labels over the years. Fortunately, the War Department acceptance stamp often survives even when the label does not. By combining the letter code with the pattern and construction details of the uniform, it is often possible to determine its production period with a high degree of confidence.

Do all British military uniforms have a War Department stamp?

Most British Army uniforms produced during the Second World War and the immediate post-war period carry some form of War Department acceptance marking. However, the stamp may have faded with age, been removed during alterations or simply be hidden beneath the lining.

Does the War Department date stamp tell you who made the uniform?

No. The acceptance stamp only helps identify when the uniform was accepted into service. If the manufacturer's label has survived, it will usually provide the maker's name, size and contract details. Without the label, identifying the manufacturer is often much more difficult.

Why were some letter codes reused?

The War Department reused several letters during the 1950s, which is why some codes correspond to more than one year. This is why collectors always examine the style and features of a uniform alongside the acceptance stamp to determine the correct date. Why they were reused exactly we sadly don't know.

Further Reading

At The Militaria Shop, we’re collectors ourselves — and we know how much a good reference guide can help. We’ve been building out a library of guides covering everything from German helmet sizes and RZM codes to British uniform sizing and War Department stamps. We add new ones as we get the time, so there’s always something new in the works.

You can find all our guides on the Militaria Collectors Guides page, or browse a selection below.