1937 Pattern - British Webbing Set

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1937 Pattern - British Webbing Set

1937 Pattern - WWII British Soldier's Webbing Set

In the early 1930s it was decided to replace the 1908 pattern webbing, as it was thought that in the next war infantrymen would be part of a motorized and mechanized army, rather than fighting in trenchers. Although what was to become pattern 37 webbing was approved by the army, it was deferred as the army was looking at a new light machine gun (bren gun). A new basic pouch was designed to suit it and the 1937 pattern webbing was then excepted in June 1938. The equipment set that the Canadian Army began to employ in 1939, called 1937 Pattern Web Equipment had already been made standard in the British Army two years before. Officially also known as Web Equipment, 1937 Pattern, WE '37 was made of the same light khaki coloured cotton webbing that the early 1908 Pattern had been made from. Some items remained similar, indeed, the Large Pack remained identical to WE '08.

The basic 1937 pattern webbing equipment was of a pre-shrunk dyed in the weave webbing which rendered the material virtually waterproof, and in the field this was treated with 'Blanco' to colour the material green to aid concealment. The basic webbing set (Battle Order) consisted of a web-waist belt with cross brace shoulder straps linked to ammunition pouches on the lower chest; which hung from either the waist belt or straps the 1908 pattern entrenching tool and 1937 pattern carrier, water-bottle and bayonet frog. In addition to such by 1944 most troops were issued with the new 1943 Light Pattern Anti-Gas Respirator and haversack carrier worn across the body on the left hand side under the 1937 webbing set. Personal items and rations etc. were carried in the 1937 pattern haversack carried on the soldiers back via brace straps attached to the webbing cross straps.

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Album by ~Angel~. Photos by ~Angel~. 25 - 48 of 85 Total. 7848 Visits.

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25 No.4 Mk II Spike Bayonet	26 No.4 Mk II Spike Bayonet being attached to helve of entrenching tool	27 No.4 Mk II Spike Bayonet attached to helve of entrenching tool	28 No.4 Mk II Spike Bayonet attached to helve of entrenching tool
29 Entrenching Tool Helve with spike bayonet attached - to be used as a mine probe by the soldier crawling forward on his hands and knees	30 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943	31 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943	32 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943
33 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943	34 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943	35 Serge-covered water bottle in canvas cover, broad arrow marked and dated 1943	36 Utility Pouches - both broad arrow marked, one dated 1943 "ROVER" and the other dated 1941 "M.G.O.Co Mk II
37 Utility Pouches - both broad arrow marked, one dated 1943 "ROVER" and the other dated 1941 "M.G.O.Co Mk II	38 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1941 "M.G.O.Co Mk II	39 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1941 "M.G.O.Co Mk II	40 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1941 "M.G.O.Co Mk II
41 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1943 "ROVER"	42 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1943 "ROVER"	43 Utility Pouch - broad arrow marked and dated 1943 "ROVER"	44 Wartime pattern .303 ammunition bandoleer. Ammunition was carried in five-round clips and would be issued in bandoleers to the soldier
45 Wartime pattern .303 ammunition bandoleer. Ammunition was carried in five-round clips and would be issued in bandoleers to the soldier	46 Wartime pattern .303 ammunition bandoleer. Ammunition was carried in five-round clips and would be issued in bandoleers to the soldier	47 Wartime pattern .303 ammunition bandoleer. Ammunition was carried in five-round clips and would be issued in bandoleers to the soldier	48 Wartime pattern .303 ammunition bandoleer. Ammunition was carried in five-round clips and would be issued in bandoleers to the soldier