I have a theory about the side pouch on the Web carry case (valise) - often referred to as a pocket for spare magazine, or for a cleaning kit. I will post my thoughts later with a picture but does anybody have an actual answer what the side pouch is supposed to contain?
Enfield web case- What is the pouch for?
- Thread starter vinver
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- Tucson, Arizona
Metal case for the broken shell extractor and something else which I don't remember
Your belief about that is correct. I don't know what the pouch was officially intended for, but it seems safe to say it would have been for ancillaries normally issued to the soldier on an individual scale.
-A pull through and oil bottle would be stored in the butt of the rifle. Was a more complete cleaning kit issued to every rifleman? It would probably fit that pouch.
-Were the canvas action covers normally issued? It could certainly accommodate one of those as ryan suggested.
-I didn't think the broken shell extractor John Sukey suggests was issued with every rifle, but if it was it would not surprise me to discover he knows that.
-I doubt the answer is ammunition because a soldier was not always issued with ammunition, and times when his rifle was stored or transported in that case are times when he was less likely to be issued ammunition.
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I don't think there is even a canvas case for every rifle...we'd be flooded with them. Find an answer as to when/why the case was issued and we'll no doubt understand what would have accompanied the rifle in the pouch.
I also doubt it was for ammo (that was issued in bandoleers), and as you've stated the cleaning kit is in the stock. If however these canvas covers were only issued in say the North African campaign, (to deal with sand) then a pouch for the action cover and perhaps specialized tooling makes sense. All depends on what they were for. (aside from putting the rifle in.)
I also doubt it was for ammo (that was issued in bandoleers), and as you've stated the cleaning kit is in the stock. If however these canvas covers were only issued in say the North African campaign, (to deal with sand) then a pouch for the action cover and perhaps specialized tooling makes sense. All depends on what they were for. (aside from putting the rifle in.)
Is it possible the pouch was for grenade launching cups, or wire cutters on WW1 rifles? I believe No.4 grenade launchers had a separate pouch but I've never seen or heard of such a thing for the cups on SMLE's, and many of these Valise's are early WW2 dated, the No.4 hadn't been issued yet in such cases. I don't know how any of those special purpose rifles were issued to troops, but I suppose it would make sense to have a place to store the extra kit when in transport.
Clearly too many people here were never in the Army because the answer is simple: if you put a pocket on it, troops will put something in it. It wasn't designed for anything in particular, just an extra thing to fill.
British WWII .303 SMLE Enfield P1937 Web Canvas Carry ...
www.ima-usa.com/british-enfield-p-1937-web-carry-case.html
New Made Item: Excellently made! British Pattern 1937 Khaki Enfield Rifle web carrying case bag with outside pocket for cleaning kit. Complete with steel fittings ...
www.ima-usa.com/british-enfield-p-1937-web-carry-case.html
New Made Item: Excellently made! British Pattern 1937 Khaki Enfield Rifle web carrying case bag with outside pocket for cleaning kit. Complete with steel fittings ...
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A couple of years ago, while doing research on this very topic, it was generally acknowledged that the outside pocket was for a bandolier of .303 ammunition.
Apparently the thinking was that if a soldier was in transit or "changing stations" he should have available his rifle and sufficient ammunition to stage a good defense should that occasion occur.
A cloth bandolier of 60 rounds of .303 ammunition in six pockets of two 5 round chargers in each pocket will fit just perfectly into that outer pocket.
Apparently the thinking was that if a soldier was in transit or "changing stations" he should have available his rifle and sufficient ammunition to stage a good defense should that occasion occur.
A cloth bandolier of 60 rounds of .303 ammunition in six pockets of two 5 round chargers in each pocket will fit just perfectly into that outer pocket.
