The following set of Pattern 1937 webbing was manufactured between 1942 and 1943 by Bata Shoe Company Private, Limited in British India. Czechoslovak industrialist Tomas Bata set up the first experimental shoe production plant in Konnagar, West Bengal with 75 Czechoslovak experts in 1931. Jan Antonin Bata then built an industrial manufacturing city called Batanagar (near Konnagar) in 1934 and another factory in Bataganj in the Digha neighborhood of Patna, the capital of the Bihar state in 1942. Bata webbing often features a letter code of 'N' or 'D' after the date, which may represent different factories. Other markings include the maker mark (B.S.C. in 1941-42 and BATA in 1943), date and inspector mark (often in the form of C↑##).
Although Indian webbing is often criticized by modern collectors for the quality of its webbing (Indian textile firms utilized a different species of cotton, which resulted in this rather coarse weave webbing) and the crudeness of its brass, it is important to remember that India had to greatly expand its production very quickly to meet wartime needs.
Indian-made Pattern 1937 Web Equipment - Field Service Marching Order
Indian-made Pattern 1937 Web Equipment - Inside
Belt marked 'B.S.C. 1942' and 'C↑22'
Belt buckle marked 'M 42'
Braces (Note the left brace loop on the outside)
Left Brace marked 'B.S.C. 1942 D' and 'C↑24'
Right Brace marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N' and 'C↑24'
Right Brace (opposite side) marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N'
Left Basic Pouch
Left Basic Pouch marked 'B.S.C. 1942 D' and 'C↑24'
Left Basic Pouch Ballistite Loops
Right Basic Pouch
Right Basic Pouch marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N' and 'C↑83'
Right Basic Pouch Ballistite Loops
Bayonet Frog marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N' and 'C↑24'
Indian Pattern Bayonet in Scabbard
Indian Pattern Bayonet (12 inch blade)
Bayonet Ricasso marked 'G.R.I.' (for Georgius Rex Imperator), 'Mk. II' (since the 12 inch bayonet blade superseded the 17 inch blade of the Mk. I) , '11 41' (for the date of manufacture, November 1941) and 'R.F.I.' (for Rifle Factory Ishapore)
Bayonet Ricasso marked with Ishapore inspection stamps 'IS 279', 'IS 284' and '225'
Waterbottle in Carrier (note that this early pattern of carrier uses a stud closure rather than the buckle system that replaced it in 1943)
Waterbottle Carrier marked 'B.S.C. 1942'
Rubber stopper marked 'B.R.W.' (the Indian origin of this waterbottle is unconfirmed)
Indian Machete in Scabbard
Indian Machete Scabbard marked 'ca 1943' (for the Government Harness & Saddlery Factory, Cawnpore) and 'C↑908'
Indian Machete
Indian Machete handle that appears to be faintly marked 'MADE IN ENGLAND'
Indian Machete handle marked with a 'Small Arms' inspection stamp 'SA 258' (these stamps are also found on wartime kukris)
Haversack
Haversack marked 'BATA 1943'
Haversack tab brass chape marked 'K.A.M. 1942'
Haversack buckle marked 'A.A. 42' (possibly for Artisans' Association of Aligarh, United Provinces)
Haversack internal divider
Indian-made Mess Tins
Indian-made Mess Tins - Inside
Indian-made Mess Tins - Outside
Inner Mess Tin Body marked 'METAL BOX COY. - CALCUTTA - 1942'
Inner Mess Tin Body marked 'METAL BOX COY. - CALCUTTA - 1942'
Shoulder Straps
Shoulder Strap hooks
Left Shoulder Strap marked 'BATA 1943' and 'C↑20'
Left Shoulder Strap Buckle (1908 Pattern) marked 'A.A. 42'
Right Shoulder Strap marked 'BATA 1943'
Right Shoulder Strap Brass Chape marked 'K.A.M. 1942'
Pack (1908 Pattern) and Supporting Straps
Pack (1908 Pattern) marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N' and 'C↑24'
Pack (1908 Pattern) Weather Flap with Eyelet
Supporting Strap marked 'B.S.C. 1942 N' and 'C↑24'
Supporting Strap Brass Chape marked 'MB' (for the Metal Box Company of Calcutta or Bombay)
Supporting Strap marked 'B.S.C. 1942 D' and 'C↑22'
Bookmarks