Infantry Equipment, Australian Pattern (Leather) - Cartridge carriers

Who would have believed it was this involved?

As has been previously noted, the history of the Infantry Equipment, Australian Pattern (Leather) is, poorly documented at best. The Cartridge carriers in particular seem have had a complicated history. I have been told that the Cartridge carrier development may have stated as early as 1912, and that records exist in the Australian National Archives that trace the evolution of the Cartridge carriers from 1913 to July 1917. There is still a good bit of controversy about this. At present, Karkee Web has not seen any documentary or photographic evidence of Australian Pattern Cartridge carriers prior to 1915. Research is ongoing, though, as noted below.

Australian Karkee researcher Graham Tweeddale has been examining one particular document, NAA file Test of infantry Equipment Leather, Series MP 367/1 Control Symbol 402/7/13, which seems to cover tests conducted in 1916 - 1917. Because of copyright restrictions, Karkee Web will not be able to reproduce this entire document here, but for now, here are some things relating to Cartridge carriers that he has learned:

(a) There are three type of Cartridge carrier mentioned. On 4/4/16 “Note. Two patterns are on issue – one fastening ?? with a securing strap & the latest pattern which is similar in shape to the web, but has two studs in front.”

Comment: This suggests that the spring loaded type were no longer on issue by early 1916, if indeed they were ever on general issue. It also tells us that the type with the stud flap fastenings are earlier than the snap type, instead of later as we had previously guessed. Based on photographic evidence, there are two types "with a securing strap": one that has a very short strap that fastens at the top, and a second that fastens on the front of the pocket.

(b) All leather equipment was manufactured with tongued buckles “since July last” ( July 1916).

Comment: Significant, since so many examples are undated.

(c) Later there is mention of the “dome fasteners” replacing the studs. Graham notes that (b) and (c) seem to have taken place at more or less the same time.

Comment: Read together, (b) and (c) suggest to that the three earliest type carriers, the (1st) "spring" , (2nd) "short strap", and (3rd) "long strap" types, may have only had the tongueless buckles; the (4th) "stud" type was perhaps made in both tongued and tongueless versions, while the (5th) "snap" type may have been made in a tongued version only.

(d) There is considerable criticism throughout the tests that the cartridge carriers sag when full & that bayonet frog tended to slid around to the front. Graham suggests that these criticisms were probably the reason why the Patt. '08 style wrap around straps were added.

Comment: If Graham's guess is right, then the "snap & strap" version is the 6th (and probably last) variation. In addition, another source has noted the additional straps as present on left side Carriers only.

Please note that all of comments above must be read as conjectural only - this is a great deal of conclusion from a small bit of evidence. It is enough, though, to require rewriting and revising this entire page. The page has been rearranged to reflect the six variation sequence shown below. Take what is written below as a best guess for now: no one on the Karkee Web Research Team would be surprised to learn that it is in error in places. This is an area where a lot of research is currently being done, so expect changes, updates, and much more solid evidence in future. Naturally, if any reader can supply further information, especially documents and photographs, we would be delighted to include it here.

Infantry Equipment, Australian Pattern (Leather) Cartridge carriers, Proposed Sequence:

• 1st issue: "Mousetrap" spring closure, possibly trials or limited issue only
• 2nd issue: Short strap, stud closure
• 3rd issue: Long strap, stud closure
• 4th issue: Flap cover, stud closure
• 5th issue: Flap cover, snap closure
• 6th issue: Flap cover, snap closure, Patt. '08 style securing straps around belt

All Australian Pattern Cartridge carriers, regardless of the issue, differ from Patt.'08 in the method by which they attach to the Belt. The Patt. '08 Cartridge carrier uses 3-inch brass double hooks to secure it in place, supplemented by two small web straps that wrap under the Belt and snap to the Carrier. Instead of these hooks, the Australian Pattern Carrier has a large brass stud on each end. These are passed through matching holes in the Belt. A leather strap attached to the Carrier is then wrapped around the front and fixed to each stud, thus locking the Carrier in place.

Note: The photo at the start of this section, supplied by Leigh McCann, shows Infantry Equipment, Australian Pattern (Leather) being used in training during WW II. We may not, as yet, be able to pinpoint exactly when development started, but we can confidently say that it was used in both World Wars.