TRANSCRIPT

Leicester Mercury, 31 December, 1910

MILITARY NOTES

by “POM-POM”

OFFICERS’ WEB EQUIPMENT

During the recent Army Manoueuvres in Wiltshire, a trial was given to an equipment of the Mills-Burr-rowes principle designed for the use of infantry officers. Six sets of these were issued to the 1st Leicestershire Regiment, 4th Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Lincoln Regiment and the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, to be worn by officers during the manoue- vres, and on return to be reported upon.

The reports sent to the War Office through the Establishments and Equipment Committee at Alder-Shot show that the wearers were very much in favour of the new equipment, and, as a result, there is good reason to believe that in the near future all infantry officers will be provided with the new pattern web equipment for field service. The equipment is some-what lighter in weight than that provided for the rank and file, but is similar in all other respects. The total weight of the equipment, consisting of broad waist belt, two brace straps, water bottle carrier, valise, and valise straps, sword frog and haversack is about 4lbs., and is so constructed that the field service portion, viz, the valise and haversack can be detached by the simple expedient of releasing the buckles, leaving the fighting equipment complete.

(Comment by KW)

Although pistol and binoculars are not mentioned, it would be illogical not to have provided for those – in particular binoculars, a prerequisite for observing manoeuvres.