Pattern 1937 Mess Gear

The British had adopted a new set of basic web equipment for their soldiers in 1937, and along with it came a replacement for the long serving “D” shaped design. The new Pattern 1937 consisted of two rectangular trays with folding wire handles, which in turn could nest easily within each other. The tins, originally made of aluminum and then steel plated with tin during the war, could be used as plates, bowls or even as a pot or frying pan. When stowed, they also made for convenient storage of a 24-Hour Ration box within.

The Mk VII canteen was almost identical to the previous design used in the Great War, although it featured a slight alteration to the cord that retains the cork stopper, and was painted green as opposed to blue, although it was still sewn into a green felt cover. It was carried in a canvas cover, the British using a solid pouch type, although variation existed throughout the Commonwealth and the Empire, such as with the author’s Canadian model, which is more reminiscent of the older type. It contained a fairly generous 1.25 quarts of water. the carrier was designed in such a way as to allow attachment of a shoulder strap or directly to the soldier’s equipment.

A change from the older design was, however, the inclusion of a brown enameled steel mug for consumption of hot beverages. Also included was a new type of utensil set, consiting of a stainless steel knife, fork and soon, held together by studs on the fork mating to dimples in the spoon and knife, along with a steel clip attached via a hinge to the base of the spoon.

Canadian soldiers enjoy a meal aboard a transport prior to the Normandy Landings