This week we are taking a closer look at the ammunition pouches used with the 1914 leather equipment set. As has already been noted, this example is a reproduction but it is well made and features the correct details we wish to study, so I hope you will forgive this. Although the Australians were to directly reproduce the cartridge carriers of the 1908 in leather for their 1915 pattern set, the British elected to follow the tried and true method of a pair of leather pouches, similar in size and design to that used on the old 1888 pattern Slade Wallace equipment. The pouch has a large shaped flap, shaped using darting (butt stitched): 

This flap is secured with a single, central tab and a brass stud on the body of the pouch: 

The ammunition pouch holds sixty rounds, so as a pair the soldier has 120 rounds at his disposal. This ammunition is carried in fifty round cotton bandoliers which are folded up and fill the main body of the pouch. A pair of quick use charger clips with an extra ten rounds are carried in the leather pocket at the rear of the pouch: 

Turning to the back of the pouch we can see the method of attaching it to the rest of the set. The two short buckled tabs are used to hold the pouch to the belt, whilst the buckle at the top is used to attach to the shoulder braces. The strap hanging down is used to secure items that hang below the waist such as the entrenching tool cover and the haversack when worn on the hip: 

The pattern of ammunition pouch would be changed in 1918 when the single securing tab for the pouch lid was replaced by two tabs, although by this date most 1914 pattern webbing was no longer in front line use. It was disposed off in the 1920s, possibly with items being sold as war surplus to the Eastern European nations setting their armies up in the aftermath of war. Original examples are now really quite scarce, but these reproductions allow me to have a wearable set and the quality is perfectly acceptable for my needs.