W.E. Patt. '08 - List of Changes Entries and Other Official Documentation
Below are all of the British and Canadian List of Changes entries pertaining to Web Equipment, Pattern 1908, that we have been able to locate. Should you know of any others, please provide us with copies so that we can include them here.
The official documents (other than L. of C. and AO entries) are presented as PDF files. You'll need to use your browser's back button to return to KW after accessing them.
British List of Changes Entries
Introduces Mk. I G.S. web rifle sling.
Alters the Mk. I G.S. web rifle sling. Does not advance the Mark.
L. of C. § 14288, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - New patterns. dated 31st January 1908
Introduces W.E., Patt, '08.
L. of C. § 14289, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Haversack, converted. dated 27th April 1908
Adds conversion of G.S. Haversack.
L. of C. § 14687, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Belt, waist. dated 4th May 1909
Adds medium size Belt.
Adds Carriers for Intrenching tool, head, and Intrenching tool, helve.
Introduces the Intrenching tool, head, and Intrenching tool, helve.
L. of C. § 15048, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Modification of patterns. dated 22nd November 1909
Design modifications to W.E. Patt. '08.
L. of C. § 15905, Implement, Intrenching, pattern 1908 - Head, Mark II. dated 4th August 1911
Modifies the head of the Entrenching tool.
L. of C. § 15950, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Carrier, water bottle, Modified. dated 14th May 1912
Modifications to update earlier issues of the Water bottle carrier.
L. of C. § 16513, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - New patterns. Approval dates 5th March 1913 & 11th July 1913. Issued 1st October, 1913.
The second date probably refers to the changes in nomenclature to Sam Browne items.
Adds Attachments, brace; Belts, waist, special; Case, pistol, Webley, with brass hooks and Pouch, ammunition, Webley, with brass hooks.
Minor modification to construction of Cartridge carriers.
Modifies Haversack and Water bottle carrier.
Modifies left Cartridge carrier to add external securing straps.
Introduces Mark II versions of these Pistol cases, specifies alterations to existing Cases.
L. of C. § 17272, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - New patterns. dated 26th May 1915
Adds Mark II (longer) versions of Belts, waist, and Belts, waist, special.
L. of C. § 17660, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Covers, mess tin. dated 31st October 1915
Introduces khaki drill Mess tin cover
L. of C. § 17808, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Pattern modified. dated 3rd July 1916
Modifies closure of Intrenching tool head carrier to buckle and chape.
L. of C. § 20641, Frog, cutter, wire, folding. (Mark I.). dated 26th April 1917
Introduces the web Frog for the Folding wire cutters of 20646 below.
Introduces Cutters, wire, folding. (Mark I.). Declares Cutters, wire, small, Mark V obsolete.
Modifies the closure straps of the Water bottle carrier, both for alterations to existing Carriers and for new manufacture.
L. of C. § 24993, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Modification of Pattern. dated 15th May 1922
Modifies side flaps of Pack to add hole and eyelet in each.
L. of C. § 25979, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Obsolete. dated 6th September 1923
Declares the Carriers, intrenching tools - Head & Helve obsolete.
L. of C. § A171, Web equipment, pattern 1908 - Modification of Pattern. dated 28th March 1924
Removes Helve holder tab from Frog.
Changes pattern of these leather Holsters to close the muzzle end. Both new production and conversion of existing stock.
Amends L. of C. § A3, Bottles, water, Mk. VI, to add a new drab cloth Cover, and then declares obselescent (and revises the nomenclature) of the felt Cover, Water-bottle, O.P. (Old Pattern).
Adds Web holster for use with Patt. '08 W.E.
Adds the Web holster for the Royal Tank Corps and Cavalry Armoured Car Regiments.
L. of C. § B2537, Covers, Mess tin, rectangular| Tins, mess rectangular. dated 31st October 1939
Declares obsolescent the W.E. Patt. '08 Cover, mess tin.
L. of C. § B3113, Cases, Pistol, Web, R.T.C., Straps, leg. 32-in, 26in. dated 5th December 1939
Adds two sizes of leg straps for the R.T.C. Pistol case.
Withdraws Intrenching tools and Carriers.
Canadian List of Changes Entries
C.L.C. § 447, Web Equipment Patt. '08, dated 1st September, 1910
Introduces Canadian W.E. Patt. '08.
C.L.C. § 1203, Web Equipment, Pattern 1913, [n.d. but 1913]
Introduces Canadian W.E. Patt. '13.
ADMIRALTY FLEET ORDERS were issued by the Royal Navy on an as required basis, over the calendar year, covering the various Administrative, Logistical & Technical issues related to running the R.N. Listed here are A.F.O’s. that relate to the W.E. Pattern 1908. There are other relevant A.F.O’s. and C.A.F.O’s (CONFIDENTIAL ADMIRALTY FLEET ORDERS) that we have been unable to locate examples of, so help here would be appreciated.
Modifies Lanchester pouches designed for use with W.E. Patt. '08 for use with W.E. Patt. '37.
COMMONWEALTH NAVY ORDERS were the Royal Australian Navy equivalent of the R.N. Admiralty Fleet Orders and were issued issued in conjunction with AFO’s on an as required basis, over the calendar year, covering the various Administrative, Logistical & Technical issues related specifically to running the R.A.N. It is fortuitous that Royal Australian Navy realized what a valuable resource for researchers their orders would be and posted them as PDF files on the Sea Power Centre – Australia web site for all to access. These documents are presented in PDF format. You'll need to use your browser's back key to return to Karkee Web after accessing it.
CNO 137/44
Authorises the return of W.E. Pattern 1908 to stores, and the issue of W.E. Pattern 1937 in its place.
Other Official Documentation
Orders for the Australian Imperial Force (issued with MO No 359 of 1915 and reprinted with amendments, MO 787 / 1915)
This excerpt from the Orders for the Australian Imperial Force (issued with MO No 359 of 1915 and reprinted with amendments, MO 787 / 1915) details both the scale of equipment issue for reinforcements, officers, and men, and the approved method of marking equipment. From the Graham Tweeddale Collection.
Regulations for the Equipment of the Army | Part I. | 1912
Regulations for the Equipment of the Army | Part I. | 1912 | Reprinted with Amendments published in Army Orders up to 31st August, 1914. Excerpts from this very interesting document presented here include tables of materials used for repair of Web Equipment, Pattern 1908. From the Graham Tweeddale Collection.
Regulations for the Equipment of the Army | Part I. | 1942
Regulations for the Equipment of the Army | Part I. 1942 | General Regulations. Excerpts from the 1942 edition, again reference material for Web Equipment, Pattern 1908. From the Clive Elliott Collection.
Canadian Order in Council P.C. 1838 / 1924
A Canadian Order In Council, P.C. 1838, dated 16th October, 1924. This order authorises the purchases of W.E. Patt. '08 Cartridge carriers, left and right, in order to make complete sets using equipment already in stores. This is especially intesting in that a number of items of Canadian made web equipment, both Patt. '08 and Patt. '19, are known with 1924 dates. Perhaps, following this purchase, they discovered they still needed additional pieces, and decided to have the less complicated ones made in Canada? Furnished to Karkee Web by KWRT Ed Storey.
