Web Equipment Pattern 1908 - Territorial Force Variants
Belts, Braces and Straps
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This was the standard Patt. ’08 belt, but the rear buckles were carried on short chapes, without the extensions. With the Braces and Cartridge Carriers fitted, there were only four Brace ends to which other articles could be attached.
As a point of interest, the Trials form of the Patt. ’08 Belt was exactly like this. William Pierrepont Wise was thwarted at a late meeting with the Army Council, when one General demanded a means of carrying the Sirhind Tool. Wise’s solution was to add extension tabs to the back buckles and also to the Cartridge Carriers. This then gave eight strap ends, to which Haversack, Water Bottle Carrier and Entrenching Tool Head Carrier could be attached. This modified form became the standard Patt. ’08 belt. No example has yet surfaced, so the illustration is a c.g.i. using a Patt. ’08 Belt, special, from the Karkee Web Collection.
Brace, with buckle (T.F. pattern) 1st Issue
Brace, with buckle (T.F. pattern) 2nd Issue
The original Braces for the Regulars incorporated a “flared” shoulder section. This was before Mills had mastered the process of reduction weaving, so creating the flare required the centre section to be woven as a flat “tube”, but open along the centre-line of the Brace. The sides were then pulled apart to create wings, which were then stitched into position. This was complicated, therefore it was expensive and Lethern illustrates parallel-sided Braces on the T.F. set, which would quickly become the norm for all Patt. ’08. The 1st Issue used plain, crimped Tips, brass, 2-in. There was then a 2nd Issue, paralleling the Regular Army change, with eyeleted Tips. Note in the second photo, the buckle is inverted, as the “gate” should point to the running end of the Brace.
