When a balaclava was an essential part of a young mans wardrobe.

[slotter47]

Does any lad of a certain age remember wearing a balaclava?

[Alan Ladd]

Yes I often wore one when I lived in Belfast.

[fatrajah]

I used to wear one in the winter for journeys to infants/junior school about 60 years ago. I also had one of those leatherette helmets that were popular at that time. Some lads were lucky enough to have their dads' leather flying helmet from WW2.

[darra]

don't forget the liberty bodice as well

[chem1st]

I wear one now.

[Texas]

I remember balaclava helmets seem to have come on the scene perhaps in the early 1940's. But your mama would have had to knit you one. The article of clothing that I remember, pre last war, was what is now known as the 'Bomber Jacket'. Then they were known as 'Lumber Jackets' and usually in corduroy. There was a kid had one in our yard on Fox St and it was my first sense of being envious. You could stand on the top of Schoolboard Hill, unbutton the thing and just lean into the wind. But Alan, you didn't wear a balaclava in 'Shane' did you.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Texas

[Gazza58]

Does any lad of a certain age remember wearing a balaclava?

 

Brought a smile to my face seeing this post,yes i was never without mine during the sixty's .

[hillsbro]

Yep - any cold winter's morning in the mid-1950s you'd see me going up Clarence Road to school in my balaclava, pretending to be Captain Scott..

[bullerboY]

ah yes the woollen balaclava with the snot dribbles down it and the lumber jacket and the leather helmet fro the army stores in the wicker all good memories.Oh forgot the commando hats as well.

[DUFFEMS]

Did you wear socks on your hands if you didn't have any gloves/mittens?

I'm beginning to sound like Les Dawson now, we were so pooer we cudn't affoard shoes mi father painted us feet black!