Description
Physical description
Complete set of canvas webbing of matching colour, consisting of a waist belt, right cartridge carrier, left cartridge carrier, bayonet frog, entrenching tool helve and carrier, entrenching tool head and carrier, water bottle and carrier, 2 braces, and haversack.
History note
Following the criticism of the Slade-Wallace equipment worn on campaign in South Africa during the Second Anglo-Boer War and its unsuitability for future service, the 1903 Pattern Bandolier Equipment was introduced. Although it had advantages over its predecessor it was not without its shortcomings: notably it severely limited the amount of items the soldier could carry on the march and caused discomfort to the chest and shoulders by the unbalanced load (see EQU 3815).
In 1906 a design of infantry personal equipment was submitted by a Major Burrowes of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (in collaboration with the Mills Web Equipment Company) for evaluation to a committee chaired by the Surgeon-General. This equipment consisted of several components made of canvas web that when assembled could form a one-piece item capable of being put on and taken off like a coat. The load was well-balanced and as the main components could be adjusted to fit the individual soldier the equipment was reasonably comfortable.
The new design permitted a variation in the amount to be carried: 'Marching Order' required the infantryman to be able to carry ammunition (150 rounds), water, rations, mess tin, bayonet, entrenching tool, spare clothing (including a rolled greatcoat in a pack) that totalled his overall carrying capacity to 62 pounds (including clothing and rifle). When the situation permitted, the pack could be discarded and the equipment re-arranged by placing the haversack onto the shoulders, thereby decreasing his overall weight.
The equipment was initially tested by troops in Great Britain, the Middle East and in India and as a result was accepted by the Army Council in 1907. Put into large-scale production, this very flexible equipment was thereafter designated the 'Pattern 1908 Web Infantry Equipment', and continued in service for thirty years.
History note
Lot no. 737 of sale of 09/Oct/1995; water bottle is brown ceramic rather than blue ceramic.
Printed (inside tab of left cartridge carrier)
M.E.CO. 1919 L 531
Printed (inside belt)
M.E.CO. 1919 S 425
Printed (inside waterbottle carrier)
G M D 79
Printed (inside entrenching tool head carrier)
M.E.CO. 1919 55
Printed (inside left brace)
M.E.CO. 1940
Printed (inside flap of haversack)
97
Embossed (reverse of entrenching tool head)
43