Web Infantry Equipment, Pattern 1913 - Belts, Braces, and Straps
The Canadian Web Equipment, Pattern 1913, was introduced with Canadian List of Changes entry No. 1203 (not dated but 1913).
Web Infantry Equipment, Pattern 1913 was the first Back Adjustment Equipment to be accepted into British or Empire service. The Adjustment strap connects to the Ammunition carriers to form a Waist belt. A separate, one piece Belt was provided for Walking Out. The Adjustment strap is 2 1/4-inches wide, with eyeleted brass tips at both ends. It has top-and-bottom flat weave loops on the inside to engage the double hooks on the Ammunition carriers. It has 1-inch angled, buckled chapes on the outside for the Braces, and a second pair of 1-inch buckled chapes on the inside. The Diagonal straps, at the rear of the Ammunition carriers, are buckled to these, producing an effect like Patt. ’14 Belts. This arrangement positions the Diagonal straps correctly, for attachment to the Pack, or Haversack. I have not seen a modern photo of the W.E. Patt. '13 Adjustment strap. From the description, though, it would be similar to the W.E. Patt. '19 Back adjustment strap, with the addition of the interior 1-inch buckles and chapes, as used on the Patt. '08 Belt, waist, special.
This is the equivalent Strap, back adjustment, from the Web Equipment, Pattern 1919. From the outside, as in this view, it is identical to the W.E. Patt. '13 Adjustment strap. It does not have the inner 1-inch buckled chapes, though. From the Karkee Web Collection.
This is an inside detail of the W.E. Patt. '08 Belt, waist, special, showing the inner 1-inch buckled chapes. This Belt is 3-inches wide, instead 2 1/4-inches like the Patt. '13 Adjustment strap, but the idea is the same. From the Karkee Web Collection.
As mentioned above, Web Infantry Equipment, Pattern 1913 was the first Back Adjustment Equipment to be accepted into British or Empire service. It was also the first British or Empire design to incorporate reduction weave Braces. The Brace design shown here would soldier on, essentially unchanged, through Pattern 1919, 1925, 1937, and 1940. This pair is maker marked "M.E. Co." and dated 1913. From the Ed Storey Collection. Photograph © Ed Storey 2008.
I've not located an original pair of W.E. Patt. '13 Straps, supporting pack. From the description in C.L.C. No. 1203, though, they are 27 1/2-inches long and 1-inch wide, with a Twigg buckle at one end and an eyeleted brass tip on the other; in other words identical to the W.E. Patt. '08 Straps, supporting. The picture at left shows a pair of Patt. '08 Support straps. These are maker marked "M.E. Co." and dated 1912. From the Karkee Web Collection.
C.L.C. No. 1203 describes the Belt, walking out, as 2-inches wide, fitted with a buckle and sliding keeper, and available in two sizes: Small (40-inches) and Large (48-inches). The example shown left is size Small. It is interesting that a separate Walking out belt was provided with this pattern. Later Back adjustment designs would provide Side pieces that connected to the Adjustment strap and made up a three piece Belt suitable for Walking Out. This example is maker marked "M.E. Co." and dated 1913. From the Karkee Web Collection.
An interesting example of the Mills Equipment Company's design economy. List of Changes entry LoC 19146, dated 30 April 1917, replaced the leather Waist belt in Bandolier Equipment, Pattern 1903, with a web version. The "new" design, though, is actually the "Large" 48-inch W.E. Patt. '13 Walking out belt, reduced in width to 1 3/4-inch to match the leather B.E. Waist belt but otherwise unchanged. The lower Belt shown left is the 1913 dated one detailed above. The upper one is a web B.E. Patt. '03 Belt, maker marked "M.E. Co." and dated 1917.
