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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:17:01 GMT -8
One of my two all time favourite sets of Mills Equipment is the Belgian Mills 15 Equipment. In case you are wondering, the other is the Web Equipment, Cavalry Pattern 1940! Unlike Pattern 1940, I do not have a set or even a single piece of the Belgian equipment. Therefore the main pictures below were taken by me at the Belgian War Museum in Brussels. First up a drawing from Army uniforms of World War 1, Andrew Mollo, Pierre Turner.   Pic from www.abbl1940.be Pic from www.abbl1940.be |
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:20:40 GMT -8
The following two pictures showing the markings have come from the fantastic Belgian website www.abbl1940.be. Unfortunately the website is completely in Flemish (I speak a little so I am able to navigate my way around the site). This equipment was made in the United States by the Mills Woven Cartridge Manufacturing Company. This is indicated by the ‘Mills 1915’ marking. This is of course opposed to a ‘M.E. Co.‘ marking which would have indicated UK manufacture. In the UK Mills Equipment Company at that stage of WW1 were far too busy on British Army orders.   |
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:24:49 GMT -8
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:26:21 GMT -8
Water Bottle Carrier.  |
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:32:18 GMT -8
A close up of the destinctive detail of the Belgian Lion (Leo Belgicus) on the snaps.  |
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:33:24 GMT -8
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:34:07 GMT -8
This second (and I believe later manufacture) set is also on display at the Belgian War Museum. Note that this set has pebbled snaps unlike the 1915 dated set shown above which has the Belgian Lion (Leo Belgicus). The pebbled snaps lend me to believe that this set is of a later production. However I have no way of confirming that as I cannot see the markings.  |
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 16, 2009 0:35:23 GMT -8
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johnt
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by johnt on Jan 29, 2010 13:54:11 GMT -8
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koen
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by koen on Oct 30, 2010 10:01:29 GMT -8
Hello,
I'm Koen and I am from Belgium.
This is one of my favorite equipment sets.
This equipment is very rare I never saw a single piece on a faire or on the eBay.
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transport
New Member
Yeah, war is hell, but Combat is a Bitch!
Posts: 10
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Post by transport on Nov 21, 2010 4:54:40 GMT -8
Ahoy!
I like the way the gear is set up, very practical for the soldier.
Gee, wonder why it is not this way today?
Chuck
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Post by leighm25 on Dec 8, 2010 19:05:34 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing the pic of the canteen carrier  |
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Post by grantsmil on May 14, 2017 5:44:02 GMT -8
I will post some images of the markings on the shoulder straps and pouches. This appears to be a nice clean set of shoulder straps, ammunition pouches and belt rear. The images are from an ebay sale some years ago. The seller elected to withdraw the set for sale - unknown why, but it disappointed me greatly.  |
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Post by grantsmil on May 14, 2017 5:50:52 GMT -8
An image of the rear of the equipment.  |
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Post by grantsmil on May 14, 2017 5:51:34 GMT -8
finally the close-up of the markings on the web.   |
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