Just as it had done with the desert DPM rucksack covers, the British Army introduced MTP pattern rucksack covers when that camouflage became standard issue to allow its DPM patterned bergens to continue in service. Bergens are a relatively expensive item of military kit, whilst a simple cloth cover is comparatively cheap and a simple way to ensure that supply chains were not clogged up waiting for replacement kit to replace serviceable bergens that just happened to be in the old camouflage.
The rucksack cover consists of a large piece of MTP fabric:
This has a drawstring around its edges that allow it to be secured over the bergen:
A plastic slider buckle allows the string to be tensioned to give a secure fit:
As usual, a small white label is sewn inside with details of the item’s NSN number and date of manufacture:
Two MTP covers can be found, a smaller version designed to cover packs such as the daysack; here modelled by a Ghurkha on exercise:
And a larger bergen cover like the example above, which can be seen here being used by a fusilier:
This gauge is different from previous examples we have covered due to its small size and four mounting holes in either corner of the square face. This suggests that this particular ammeter is taken from an aircraft rather than being for some ground based purpose.
I have tried looking up this code and come across several eBay auctions describing this as being a ‘rare early Spitfire instrument’. Unfortunately I cannot find any corroborating evidence for this description yet and sellers are notorious for trying to attach militaria to an interesting unit, person vehicle in a bid to boost sales. A list of Air Ministry stores codes however suggests that it is actually for ground lighting and miscellaneous equipment:
Whilst this instrument was never actually used in a spitfire or indeed any other aircraft, it was a lucky find for £2 in a large box of vintage plugs and so was a great little addition to the collection and the sort of little find I love having.
The bandolier has five individual pockets, each secured with a brass wire hook, passed through a hole in the cotton and folded over to secure it:
Each pocket would carry two five round chargers, giving a total of fifty rounds per bandolier. The webbing strap is 1 1/8″ wide herringbone twilled webbing:
The reinforcing strap is clearly visible across the bottom:
The bandolier has a number of stamps, this one dates the bandolier to 1967 and shows it is a MK 3/1:
A stamp on the rear shows it was filled by Radway Green on 20th June 1967:
There is also a random circular stamp which is poorly stamped so impossible to read:
These bandoliers remained in service throughout the SLR era, the rounds being used to refill magazines during quiet periods. Here troops in the Falklands War can be seen with the disposable bandoliers slung over their chests:
This account from the Falklands by Vince Bramley describes using these bandoliers:
This brass loop was to slot your thumb through to hold the compass steady whilst a bearing was taken:
The compass opened up into two parts, one was a silvered panel with a slot cut through it to look down when taking a bearing, whilst the other half had the compass itself:
The dial of the compass sat around the luminescent needle and could be rotated to take a bearing:
The following instructions were given for using the magnetic marching compass:
T.G. Co. Ltd. was the abbreviation used by The Gramophone Company. This firm merged with its subsidiary His Master’s Voice (2/3) and with Columbia Graphophone Co. (1/3) in 1931 to become EMI (Electric& Musical Industries) who continued to use “The Gramophone Co.” trademark for various items, changing it for the War contracts to just T.G. Co. Ltd.
The front of the paper is printed with details of the contents:
Whilst the rear shows how to use the stove:
Once unwrapped the stove is a small brass box:
The ends fold down to lift the main burner plate off the ground, and provide points for the mess tin to rest on above the flames, the box of hexamine is visible stored inside:
With the box removed it can be seen that the burner has holes in its base to encourage airflow to allow the hexamine tablets to burn:
The hexamine itself is provided in a small waxed cardboard box (that can be used to help light the blocks). The top of the box warns to use the fuel in a well ventilated area:
This is wise advice as hexamine is made from various noxious chemicals including formaldehyde which you do not want to breathe in!
The manufacturer of the hexamine has marked their name on the edge of the box:
Here troops can be seen boiling water using a hexamine cooker:
As ever ARRSE has a wonderfully irreverent take on hexamine:
They were issued in a set with a case and anti-dimming kit:
The case is a small green carry case, secured by two quick release tabs on the front:
A pair of ‘c’ hooks on the rear allows it to be carried on a belt:
Inside the goggles rest with the lenses to the rear of the case:
A small pocket is provided at the front for the anti-dimming kit:
The case itself is lined with a soft white cloth to help protect the lenses of the goggles from scratches and a maker’s stamp for the case is printed here indicating the case dates from 1965:
A label with instructions for the goggles use is sewn into the lid of the case:
The goggles themselves have a distinctive angular design to give them greater peripheral vision than standard goggles:
Small ventilation holes are stamped into the top, bottom and sides of the goggles to help air flow into the lenses and preventing the eyepieces from fogging up as quickly as they might otherwise have done:
One side of the lenses have the word ‘top’ stamped on them to ensure the wearer puts them on correctly:
The size of the goggles over the bridge of the nose can be adjusted and a green elasticated head harness is provided to help keep them on the head:
A metal buckle on either side allows the tightness of the head harness to be adjusted:
Note also the faint date stamp indicating that these goggles were produced in 1965. These eye protectors started being trialled in 1949 and seem to have continued in service until at least the 1970s.
This simple device consisted of a leather tab, with a slot cut in it:
This was threaded over the boss on the bayonet scabbard before it was slotted into the frog:
The opposite end had a stamped brass eyelet:
When the bayonet was inserted in the frog, the tab was folded over the top of the uppermost webbing loop and secured to the boss with the brass eyelet:
This held tension on the scabbard and prevented it working loose. Although the bayonet frogs were soon modified, the tab remained in inventory until at least 1974 and lasted long enough to be allocated an NSN number.
Whilst these tabs were used, many soldiers used the expedient method of cutting a small slot in the frog to better fit the boss of the scabbard, and in 1944 this was adopted as the official method of modifying the frog and the tabs became obsolescent, although clearly remained in inventory for at least another thirty years!