Thank god for this thread! I can now use the large pack I bought for my SE Asia load out!
Steve
SnS SMLE, SnS No.4, ASG Sten gun, King Arms M1928A1, Projector Infantry Anti Tank, MkII 2" Mortar, Vickers .303
The large pack is designed to carry your Greatcoats here this is how, from the internet. We thank the poster of this information.
"The Greatcoat was always worn in the Valise (large pack) in Marching Order by Infantry equipped with 1908 or 1914 Pattern equipment.
When I was about to go on my first Khaki Chums trip to Dunkirk in 1990, I bemoaned the fact that it was hard work getting my greatcoat into my pack to my Dad's mate, Bill Todd. Bill had joined the Royal Marines in the late 1930s and he soon put me right.
He said, "You can get that coat rolled up so that it rattles around in the bottom of the pack with room to spare!". He then showed me how to unbutton the back belt, pass the two halves of the back belt through the slits provided for the purpose so that they were on the inside. He then laid the coat flat on the floor, folded both sides in so that they were narrower than the width of the large pack. He then started folding the coat from the collar down and the bottom up, kneeling on it as he went. With much effort he then pulled the two halves of the back belt over the rolled coat and buttoned them back together to keep it tightly rolled.
He said to me, "hold the pack open". He then dropped it in and it literally did rattle around inside! Since then I have never had a problem getting a greatcoat into a large pack - along with D-Type mess tins, spare shirt, spare socks and whatever other kit should be in there. Even now that I am much bigger than I was as a 20 year old (and have a bigger greatcoat) I can still manage it (albeit that the coat no longer rattles around but is a bit of a squeeze!). The rest of the kit still fits in the pack with it.
The last time I did so was at St Gillies Waas in October on the Khaki Chums' 1914 Royal Naval Division Antwerp Tour. We packed our kit, in the dark, on the site of the old railway station and set off at 9.30pm for the Dutch Border along the route taken by the 1st Royal Naval Brigade who marched into internment rather than captivity in October 1914 - exactly 95 years to the minute earlier. Even in the rush it was no problem fitting the large (and brand new) early pattern greatcoat into the pack.
The one inch 'Valise Straps", worn across the front of the pack are for securing additional kit. The waterproof cape can often be seen held flat under the crossed straps. Caps and helmets are also secured to the outside of the large pack with the straps, curving round either side of the helmet or cap to hold it in place. The bucked ends of the valise straps certainly fastened to the short 1" straps at the rear of the pouches. This stopped the pack (or haversack) bouncing around and made the "figure of 8" around the body which was an important feature of Major Burrowes' design.
In Battle Order the valise straps were often used to carry the waterproof cape. A greatcoat would be to awkward to carry rolled at the back of the belt and, considering that they were banned from the front line during the official army summer time, there would be no need to carry them that way as they were left in the large packs with the Transport. In the winter they were worn on the way up to the line. "
The Regulation/method is good for 37 pattern webbing as well the Large pack still being 08 pattern anyway really. Enjoy learning how to roll it.
Thank god for this thread! I can now use the large pack I bought for my SE Asia load out!
That reminds me, I need to finish off my chindit impression!
Regards,
Ralph
That reminds me, I need to finish off my chindit impression!
Not quite chindit (though it's not hard to make one as Queens were part of them) but popped up my Jungle Greens on the kit pic thread.
Steve
SnS SMLE, SnS No.4, ASG Sten gun, King Arms M1928A1, Projector Infantry Anti Tank, MkII 2" Mortar, Vickers .303
