Object Title

Wire cutters - Wire cutters and carry case, Pattern 1937 webbing

Date

1940-1945

Object Number

XIII.1196

Provenance

Purchased from Battleflag Militaria in September 2019.

Materials

Brass, Cotton, Steel

Associations

Places Britain/Europe

Information

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This equipment carried everything a soldier would need in combat. Like the Pattern 1908 equipment of the previous war, it was made from cotton 'webbing' material. Like the old equipment, soldiers were supposed to constantly apply layers of 'Blanco' cleaning powder, giving a uniform green or khaki colour. The key difference lay in the two large pouches at the front. These carried 120 rounds of ammunition (in loaded magazines plus spare cartridges) for the unit's Bren light machine gun. This left only 50 dedicated rounds for the rifleman's own No. 4 rifle, 70 rounds less than in the First World War.

This change resulted from the new focus upon the Bren and Sten guns as the main sources of Section (squad) firepower. The rifle was regarded by the authorities as little more than a self-defence weapon, although the rifleman remained key to taking ground from the enemy. The soldier designated as 'No. 2' for the Bren gun could carry a second set of Bren magazine pouches on his upper chest. Essential components including a bayonet hanger or 'frog' and a haversack pack for kit such as additional clothing, knife and fork, and water bottle. The Section Leader also carried cutters to get through enemy barbed wire.

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