Definition of Battledress

Battle Dress, was the combat uniform worn by British, many Commonwealth and Empire forces and many Free European Forces through the Second World War, mostly but not exclusivly in temperate climates. In some armies it continued in use into the 1970's. During the Second World War and thereafter this uniform was also used for formal parades (incuding mounting the Queens's Guard at Buckingham Palace) until the re-introduction of separate parade uniforms. The Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) was the combat uniform of of United States forces through the late 20th Century.