United Kingdom. The Raf Service Tunic Of Wing Commander/Group Captain Edward John Holden, Mbe

The tunic is fabricated from a grayish-blue wool-cotton blend, the front with five pockets, one on each breast which have decorative straps giving them a pleated-look, along with two larger ones at the waist, all four pockets with a fold over flap with brass buttons, each of which bears a crown above the RAF eagle and maker marked "BUTTONS Ltd B'HAM", the two breast pockets also with dual snap closures added. An additional small flap-less pocket appears between the two right side pockets. Above the left pocket, is a King's crown Royal Air Force Pilot's badge, in white and brown embroidery, on a black wool base, with a three-level Ribbon Bar immediately below (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division / 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; and Africa Star / Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; and General Service Medal 1918-1962). The front is completed by a vertical row of three large brass buttons on the right side, each of which bears a crown above the RAF eagle, two of the buttons maker marked "BUTTONS Ltd B'HAM", the other button maker marked "PITT & Co LONDON". A smaller plain flat brass button appears just below the last button and is unmarked. All four buttons face an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left side. There are two thin gray straps on sewn in place on either side at the rear, which support a wide grayish-blue wool-cotton blend belt, the right end housing a large brass dual prong buckle, the left end with three rows of two holes each to be fed through the buckle, allowing for an adjustable fit, and aided by a snap closure. Each cuff bears the rank piping of a Group Captain, the tunic single-vented at the rear.

The inside is lined in a gray rayon, with two top-entry pocket on the right side, the one at the breast finished with a button down flap, with a manufacturer's label sewn in place inside the pocket inscribed "R.E. CITY Ltd. / 19 MELCOMBE ST, N.W.1 WEL 8136/7 / UNIFORM & CIVILIAN BESPOKE OUTFITTERS" and named to "W/CDR. E.J. HOLDEN, MBE", the lower one at the waist is flap-less, while the sleeves are lined in a white rayon. An embroidered manufacturer's label inscribed "R.E. (CITY) Ltd. LONDON W.1." is sewn in place in the collar. The tunic measuring 480 mm across the shoulders x 800 mm in length, is without interruptions in the fabrics, with intact stitching and is very clean, near extremely fine.

Footnote: 500446 Holden, B.Sc. was with the Education Branch of the Royal Air Force when he was appointment to a commission as a Flight Lieutenant (permanent), effective January 3, 1949, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 38532 of Friday, February 4, 1949, on Tuesday, February 8, 1949, page 682, and continued to serve with the Education Branch when he was promoted to Squadron Leader, effective August 3, 1953, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 39961 of Friday, September 11, 1953, on Tuesday, September 15, 1953, page 4927. 500446 Squadron Leader Edward John Holden was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division, as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 42051 of Friday, June 3, 1960, on Saturday, June 11, 1960, page 3981. Holden later achieved the rank of Wing Commander while serving in the Education Branch. 500446 Wing Commander Edward John Holden, M.B.E., B.Sc., F.I.M.A., A.F.R.Ae.S. was serving in the Education Branch of the Royal Air Force when he was promoted to Group Captain, effective July 1, 1969, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 44885 of Friday, June 27, 1969, on Tuesday, July 1, 1969, page 6791.