Canada, Commonwealth. An Order of St John Uniform, Captain Jack Boddington

An Order of St John uniform worn by Captain Jack Boddington, founder of the Military Collector’s Club of Canada. The jacket is constructed of a black wool with a gray collar and gray cuffs. The collar is adorned with an insignia of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, measuring 55 mm (h) x 40 mm (w) and depicting a white Maltese cross within a wreath, topped by a Royal crown. The front is completed by two large silver buttons on the left and right side, each bearing the insignia of the Order, a Maltese cross with lions and unicorns arranged alternatingly in each quadrant, as well as the cuffs, with two buttons each. The inside is lined with black nylon with no manufacturer's label. The jacket measures 60 cm across the shoulders x 50 cm in length, in excellent condition. Accompanying the jacket is a red waistcoat with three large silver buttons bearing the insignia of the Order; as well as two cummerbunds, one in plain gray wool, and one in black wool with a pattern depicting maple leaves and Maltese cross insignia, sewn in place on the interior lining is the manufacturer’s label for THE PARK LANE NECKWEAR CANADA. The trousers are also in black wool and include white suspenders. Overall, in extremely fine condition. 

Footnote: Jack Boddington was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England in 1926. He served in the British Army at the age of 20, with the Manchester Regiment and the Lancashire Fusiliers. In 1956, Jack was discharged from the British Army as a Lieutenant and moved with his wife Joan to Alberta, Canada. He was a founding member of the Military Collector’s Club of Canada (MCC of C). He died in 2016 in Edmonton, Alberta.