The 1937 pattern small pack and it's contents.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, as I have the pack and most of it's original contents I thought it would make an interesting thread for the forum.
The pack, although not large, could hold enough items to keep a man in the field for a few days, with a change of underclothing and his rations.
The photo shows the pack on a complete set of 1937 pattern webbing circa 1944.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The pack emptied of it's contents showing the internal dividers. The two compartments hold the mess tin and the water bottle. The larger compartment hold the other items.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the 1937 pattern water bottle (in it's carrier, one of two versions)

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the mess tin. These came in two versions. Early war these were tinned steel with an impressed rib to the sides of the tin. Later in the war by 1944, the mess tin was design was altered; the rib was done away with and the metal was changed to alluminium. This now classic design is still used today.

I will show both versions here. (The tinned steel cannot be used today due to health risks.)

[Adrian Stevenson]

Alloy mess tin.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Makers mark and date to the alloy tin.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The mess tin was used to hold rations, like "biscuits, brown" , well known to any British sqaddie and small tinned items such as bully beef, processed cheese, etc.

Many troops actually threw away one of the mess tin halves to help lighten their load.

1944 saw the introduction of the boxed 24 Hour ration which fitted into the larger of the two mess tin halves.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Often described as a "Mess tin cover" these were used as such, but are more correctly described as an "Un-expired ration bag", and were used to hold food items.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Not shown in the main photo, as I forgot to put it on ,but normally carried on the right securing strap to the flap of the small pack, was the enamel drinking mug. This will hold 1 pint.

Pre and early war these were in white enamel with a blue rim. This changed to brown early in the war to help camo the item

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the clip together knife, fork, spoon set. These were hard to find a few years ago, but are now more readily available, due to some old stocks coming to light. These can be found in two sizes which vary by over an inch.
Early war the knife, fork, spoon were of conventional table ware and were carried in the wash roll.
This clip together set was carried in the pack tucked at the side of the mess tin.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Date to clip of the knife, fork, spoon set.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Clean water is vital. Here is the sterilizing tablets carried to clean the water bottle and make the water pure to drink.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Contents.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is a item every soldier needed and was carried in the bottom of the pack, "The Housewife". Spare buttons and thread for repairs in the field.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is the wash roll which carried shaving gear, tooth brush, comb, spare boot laces, button stick, etc. The alloy soap tin was a late war item and all examples seem to be dated 1945. The steel shaving mirror was a private purchase item.

As you can see, I like bakelite So I have included a button stick, which was more often found made of brass, and the shaving set often found in alloy.