Post by johnt on Jan 16, 2010 18:44:08 GMT -8
I decided to post this after I saw the wonderful Belgian website that Leigh put us on to in his thread about Belgian M1915 equipment. By the way, Leigh, although I don't have a lot of M1915, I do have a few pieces - one brace, a haversack, rucksack, and a water bottle and carrier. I'll dig them out and post pics of them soon. The web site he mentioned is
http://www.abbl1940.be./ABBL1940files/ABBLbasisframeset.htm
and is well worth a look. One thing I found very interesting was photos of a set of web equipment that they identified as "Mills 30 Fusiliers-grenadiers uitrusting". This is only the second reference I've found to this type of equipment. Alfred Kruk, in his Patronentaschen, Patronengürtel and Banduliere 1850-1950, page 14, refers to it as webbing of the Chasseurs Ardenais. In both cases, the assumption is that this set is post-WWI. My own set of this webbing is shown below.
First of all, I don't think that the Belgian site is right in referring to it as "Mills". Mills never used leather, and the fittings, rivets, etc., are similar to Mills, but are not the same. Next, my own set is owner marked to a Capt. J.D.R. Bryant, E. Surrey Regiment. According to his medal card and the E. Surrey regimental diaries, Capt. Bryant served with the 1st Btn, E. Surrey Regt. in 1915, including the battle at Hill 60. He could have acquired this Belgian equipment then. Capt. Bryant later transferred to the 3rd Btn, and to the ASC in June of 1916. That certainly suggests that this set was made prior to 1916. Of course, I do realize that the name could have been added at any time, but I would like to know if anyone can supply any more info on this type of equipment.
http://www.abbl1940.be./ABBL1940files/ABBLbasisframeset.htm
and is well worth a look. One thing I found very interesting was photos of a set of web equipment that they identified as "Mills 30 Fusiliers-grenadiers uitrusting". This is only the second reference I've found to this type of equipment. Alfred Kruk, in his Patronentaschen, Patronengürtel and Banduliere 1850-1950, page 14, refers to it as webbing of the Chasseurs Ardenais. In both cases, the assumption is that this set is post-WWI. My own set of this webbing is shown below.
First of all, I don't think that the Belgian site is right in referring to it as "Mills". Mills never used leather, and the fittings, rivets, etc., are similar to Mills, but are not the same. Next, my own set is owner marked to a Capt. J.D.R. Bryant, E. Surrey Regiment. According to his medal card and the E. Surrey regimental diaries, Capt. Bryant served with the 1st Btn, E. Surrey Regt. in 1915, including the battle at Hill 60. He could have acquired this Belgian equipment then. Capt. Bryant later transferred to the 3rd Btn, and to the ASC in June of 1916. That certainly suggests that this set was made prior to 1916. Of course, I do realize that the name could have been added at any time, but I would like to know if anyone can supply any more info on this type of equipment.
