British Soldier's Holdall & Contents - Late 1930s to early 1940s
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2018
- A look at typical contents of the British soldier's holdall from the early Second World War period.
I realise I may not have been clear on the point of the metal comb, a plastic comb would also be correct for this period but metal combs were not uncommon. I use the metal comb when giving talks as an item which would likely become less common later in the war as aluminium was a vital war material and plastic became a more and more common material in all sorts of applications as the war went on.
The 1939 1937 Pattern fitting instructions which include the prescribed issue contents for the holdall in the weight tables; www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/193...
My dad had something similar but it was what he called a "housewife". It was a sewing kit with room for several reels of thread and pockets for buttons and accessories and a sort of hessian type pad for storing sewing needles. Designed to be rolled up and tied with tapes and stored in their kit.
The "Hussiff" ( Housewife) was issued together with the Hold all.
Basic emergency repair kit for all sort of Clothing emergencies; usually a well trained soldier also got a few Safety Pins ( Large, Bandage Type) for clothing Tears and Stitching Faiures.
Sunday was usually " Make and Mend" Day; a practice carried over from the Royal Navy of the 17the and 18th Century.
When I served ( 1967-73) I made my own kit of both usages, with some extra heavy thread and needles for repairing Webbing as well.
We were Reserves so didn't get all the Bells and Whistles
the Regulars did.
DocAV
That's actually a very clever design. I could use something like that for travelling.
In 80's I had a washroll that tied round waist or could be hung up don't remember if it was issue. Many pockets and made in green cotton. Still got the little container for sewing needles out of the "housewife".
I use a very similar but more modern version of this for work. Mostly wash kit with a few other things. I got the idea from here so thanks.
Some excellent information here, thanks for posting 😀
Glad you found it useful! I'd stress this is the kit I use and is typical but not absolute gospel, for example the comb could be plastic, it might even be horn or bone like the toothbrush. Fusilier Payne's kit from later in the war included a hair brush in preference, bulkier but it has the advantage of cleaning the hair to some degree in a way the comb won't. There will be variations from man to man.
I found some eco friendly wooden toothbrushes that look the part, and ended up getting a straight razor for mine as it rolls up easier than having the safety razor packed in it. Nice tip of getting a tube of paint as a stand in for the toothpaste
Wooden toothbrushes were certainly around at the time, I've seen a 1940 dated example. There is some discussion that they might have been common as an economy measure post-Dunkirk but believe that's just speculation at present. The paint tube does work well, as I say the size and design of cap is very close to toothpaste tubes of the period. I'm not sure I'd want to use an original '30s toothpaste tube on displays at events anyway.
To get an idea of what was stored in the holdall its worth looking online for the artist Rex Whistler's illustrations of kit layout in the Guards. Whistler was killed in Normandy on 18 July 1944 while serving as a tank troop commander in the Welsh Guards, Guards Armoured Division.
Thanks, I'll definitely take a look. Is it a kit layout in the field or in barracks? A formal kit layout for inspection will show some different contents compared with those typically carried in the field.
Yes Whistler's layouts are for barracks kit inspections so some items that would be in the holdall in the field are laid out elsewhere but they are still worth looking at because of the eye for detail that made him such a brilliant illustrator.
That razor looks to be a Gillette of the Super Speed or Rocket type. They only really began to be made in the late 40's through to the early 60's and lovely razors they are. The only contemporary butterfly openers were the US Ranger Techs, Gillette ceased production of them in 41, due to war economy. they were available here, but rare I believe. The Wardonia bakelites were common and popular. Fusilier Payne's Autostrop would have been widely available. Also the Ever-Ready/GEM Single Edge razor, which took a blade like a modern paint scraper. All lovely shavers, as I can report. Please give a report on how you found the Valet at some point!
Good to know, thanks for that! I shall replace it with an earlier example.
My father was a navy man enlisted in Royal Australian Navy in '48 and was member of the Far East fleet, as such became BCOF in Japan and served in all other asian conflicts including the Malay emergency and Korea. He always referred to his as a "Hussif" which is navy speak for housewife. I still use it to this day
nicely explained
Thank you.
Who else sings along with the intro music?
...Rommel has four or five I guess... No one's quite sure about Rudolph Hess...
I was issued something like that in 71(same type of thing but slightly different) but, there was nothing in it, you supplied your own kit.
Interesting to know, was it in green waterproof material?
Fantastic video ! I was wondering if you could answer some questions? Do you know if you were issued KFS or did you use civilian ones ? And were you issued with toothpaste or tooth powder if so what brand ? Also do you know anyone that sells repro Tommy cookers ? Sorry to bombard you with questions but it would be great to find out . Thanks once again , The buffs
Excellent questions, at this time yes you were issued a knife fork and spoon. I believe toothpaste would be a NAAFI purchase item. When you refer to the Tommy cooker which exact stove are you referring to, the small fold out solid fuel example?
Thank you for the fast response ! either I suppose witch one was more popular , The fold out version or the First World War version ?
@@thebuffs3794 KFS joined in one was part of your issued kit in 71 onwards plus the Button Stick however most buttons were staybrite... web belts still had brass to shine and glean to a high gloss.
Brilliant video, would love to see more of its kind. Would the brass polish stick and house wife not be included? Also what type KFS was used? Thanks.
Glad you like it, thank you! I'll cover details in a video when I get around to looking at one man's kit in the early Second World War period. There is debate as to whether the button stick was carried in the field, it is not mentioned as an item carried in the holdall on the march but was included for kit inspections, the hussif tended to be carried separately to leave more room in the holdall. Cutlery was in plain steel, again will have details of that in a video soon!
Rifleman Moore I look forward to it.
T H A N K. Y O U
Most welcome, hope you found it useful!