Web Eqmᵀ Markings of the British Empire

**karkee** · 10-19-2014, 12:59 AM

The broad arrow has been used in Britain to indicate government property since at least the seventeenth century. By the twentieth century, it was used across the British Empire to denote the property of the various dominions and colonies. Web equipment was no exception and, in addition to maker marks and dates, featured a wide variety of ownership and inspection marks.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE MARK
The broad arrow came in various styles and differed significantly between British webbing manufacturers. Shown here is the classic broad arrow design used on webbing made by the Mills Equipment Company since before the Great War.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA OWNERSHIP MARK
South African webbing was marked with a broad arrow inside the letter ‘U’, which stood for the Union. These marks were often stamped in red ink like the one pictured which comes from a 1945-dated South African basic pouch.

BRITISH INDIA OWNERSHIP MARK
Webbing supplied to India from the motherland (and later produced by Indian firms) bore a broad arrow surmounting the letter ‘I’. This particular stamp comes from a 1941-dated three-piece belt.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA OWNERSHIP MARK
Australian webbing often had a broad arrow flanked on both sides by the letter ‘D’, which stood for Department of Defence. This stamp comes from a 1943-dated Australian L-strap.

DOMINION OF CANADA OWNERSHIP MARK
Canadian webbing was marked with a broad arrow surrounded by the Letter ‘C’. This Canadian broad arrow comes from a 1941 dated officer’s haversack.

ROYAL NAVY OWNERSHIP MARK
Naval webbing was often marked with the letter ‘N’ with a broad arrow above and an inspector number below. This form of ownership mark appears to have been in use from 1920 to 1937, when it was replaced by a smaller version that was ultimately discontinued in 1939. This navy ownership mark comes from a 1923-dated pattern 1919 cutlass frog.

ROYAL AIR FORCE OWNERSHIP MARK
Webbing manufactured for the Royal Air Force was often marked with a king’s crown surmounting the letters ‘A’ and ‘M’, for ‘Air Ministry’. This RAF ownership mark comes from a 1941-dated pattern 1937 brace attachment.

INSPECTION MARK (GREAT BRITAIN)
British inspection marks during the Great War usually featured a broad arrow, surmounting a dot, above an inspector number. This can be seen in the mark depicted, which comes from a 1919-dated pattern 1908 belt.

INSPECTION MARK (GREAT BRITAIN)
Inspection marks on British webbing at the start of the Second World War often featured a broad arrow, surmounting an inspector number, above the letter ‘U’. This form of inspector mark continued into 1941 and was exclusively seen on items produced by Mills Equipment Company. The pictured pattern 1908 brace has an inspection mark of this type and was manufactured in 1940.

INSPECTION MARK (GREAT BRITAIN)
Inspection marks consisting of a broad arrow above an inspector number were common throughout the Second World War. The mark shown comes from a 1941-dated British bayonet frog.

INSPECTION MARK (SOUTH AFRICA)
South African Inspection marks commonly featured an inspector number next to a South African broad arrow. The pictured mark comes from a 1942-dated South African haversack.

INSPECTION MARK (INDIA)
Indian inspection marks typically consisted of a broad arrow with a single letter to the left and a two or three digit inspector number to the right. This mark comes from an Indian pattern 1937 belt made in 1942.

INSPECTION MARK (AUSTRALIA)
Inspection marks on Australian webbing often consisted of a one or two letter code surmounted by a broad arrow. These marks were usually stamped in purple or black ink, like the one pictured which comes from a 1942-dated Australian haversack.

SOLD OUT OF SERVICE MARK
When webbing was sold out of British military service, it was often stamped with two opposing broad arrows. This sale mark comes from a 1916-dated haversack.