1894 Pattern (Mark I) Valise Equipment ammunition pouch : British and colonial forces Accession Number: REL/03162.002

Description

Buff leather ammunition pouch, 1894 (Mark I) pattern (described in List of Changes 7432 26 January 1894) designed to be worn as part of 1888 Pattern Valise Equipment and to carry 50 rounds of .303-inch rifle ammunition. The pouch is made from three pieces of leather – front flap and back, front, and gusset, stitched together. The measurements of the pouch are as per the sealed pattern being 6 1/2 inches wide and 3 3/4 inches high. The flap opening is on the side nearest the wearer and is shaped with a stitched dart in each side. Leather tubes for carrying separate cartridges inside the pouch are arranged in two rows of nine, one row being stitched to the inside front and the other to the inside back of the pouch. Three unbroken packets of ammunition could be carried between the rows of tubes, the packets being divided by two strips of leather sewn across the pouch. A single leather cartridge tube is sewn on the rear gusset seam. Two vertical leather loops are riveted with four tinned copper rivets each on the back of the pouch to carry the pouch on a waist belt. A billet has been sewn to the lower centre back of the pouch with two holes with slits and a brass loop sewn to it. The billet secures upwards by passing through a brass loop secured to the pouch with a stitched leather tab and over the brass stud sewn on top of the pouch. The strap of the brace (when worn) is secured to the pouch by passing it through both the brass loop on the billet and the brass loop of the pouch. The pouch is stamped on the side of the flap with 'E S' and '6230'. The pouch is darker in colour than is normal for buff leather indicating that it may have been deliberately stained to reduce its light colour.

Contextual Description

The 1888 Pattern Valise Equipment was also known as the Slade-Wallace equipment, after its two designers, Colonel Slade and Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Wallace. The complete equipment consisted of a waist belt, two ammunition pouches, a pair of braces with movable buckles and a keeper, two greatcoat straps, one mess-tin strap, and one valise to carry clothing, cutlery and other personal equipment. This pattern was issued to British and colonial forces but was replaced with 1903 Bandolier equipment after its performance was criticised in the Boer War. The 1888 Pattern equipment was in service at most for 15 years though some parts such as waist belts, were retained for ceremonial purposes. Several variants of ammunition pouches were issued during the use of the 1888 Pattern equipment.