WW2 British Ammo Box

[Jimbo]

Hi Guys, I came across this ammo box marked C224 LAY/C I 1942
I am thinking of repainting it to tidy it up and help stop rust etc.
Been trying to find out what colour would have been original?
A website I found suggested BS381 499 Service brown no 2.
Can anyone confirm if this is correct?
Thanks

[CBH]

I have a similar one , it's green but that could be post war . Brown would work , I think the lock hasp was added later .

[Jimbo]

Thanks for your reply, from what I have read Canadian ones were Green so yours might well be the original paint!

There doesn't seem to be many other confirmations online as to what colour the WW2 British Boxes should be.

I have the option of getting either Gloss or Matt 'Service brown no 2'. Don't want to get the wrong colour and have to re-do it!

[CBH]

I'd go matt , with a rust paint primer . Mine is marked C255C MK I LAY/C 1945
Having photo posting issues or I'd take a photo . I too love old ammo boxes and the like .
And they are getting harder and harder to find .

[Warspite]

I use a matt service brown primer for mine when I repaint them. i bought a 1L tin a few years back and used it for all my ammunition boxes. I started off making stencils for the markings, but after cutting out a few of those I gave it up as a bad job and just paint them brown now!

[earlymb]

C224 boxes were used for:
3-in. Q.F. howitzer Smoke
Number Packed: 12
Gross weight: 144 lbs
4.5-in. B.L. gun Cordite W- 1st Charge
Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 57 lbs
4.5-in. B.L. gun Cordite W- 2nd and 3rd Charges
Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 90 lbs
5.5-in. B.L. gun 3rd and 4th charge
Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 88 lbs
6-in. 26-cwt. B.L. howitzer 4-lb. 6-oz. 4-dr charge
Number Packed: 10
Gross weight: 80 lbs
M.L. 8-in. projector, Generators Smoke, No. 23
Number Packed: 12
Gross weight: 100 lbs

Source: Consolidated List Of Containers

[Jimbo]

Thanks for all your messages and input
I will probably paint it Matt as suggested in BS381 499 service brown.
Does anyone have anywhere that they would recommend getting the paint from?
Thanks

[psycopis]

Hallo, I have this box find in Modena, Italy. Is personalized by soldier. I have a quastion. What does gray color mean?
I clean the box only with water. Thanks

[earlymb]

I think this box was used as a personal footlocker and as such could have been painted a different colour to make it different from the other boxes.

[LAH 650]

Picked up yesterday will sort more photos if requested