WW1 British Machine Gunners 08 Pattern webbing belt equipment

**Mark Holden** · 12-30-2011, 09:22 PM

A small set up of the belt equipment worn by a Lewis Machine Gunner. All apart from the intrenching tool holder are dated 1915 or earlier. The holder is the second pattern and dated 1918. The waist belt is period converted to allow cross straps to be worn with pistol accoutrements.

Mark

WW1 British Machine Gunners 08 Pattern webbing belt equipment

**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-30-2011, 09:53 PM

Hi Mark, a nice rig.

Cheers, Ade.

**Styx** · 12-30-2011, 09:57 PM

Excellent looking belt! I'm moving into collecting British WWI items from, well, today onwards, so it's great to see what part of a proper collection looks like

Robbie

**talltom** · 12-30-2011, 10:48 PM

a fine setup thanks for sharing (you got any pics of that fine looking webley

)

**matthewsq** · 12-30-2011, 10:55 PM

Cool!! Can we see some more of the webley???

**SteveR** · 12-31-2011, 06:49 AM

Nice rig.

**Mark Holden** · 12-31-2011, 06:14 PM

As requested more pics of the MKV Webley. Old spec deactivation so chambers and barrel are clear.

Mark

**Battery Command Post** · 01-05-2012, 12:35 AM

by Styx

Excellent looking belt! I'm moving into collecting British WWI items from, well, today onwards, so it's great to see what part of a proper collection looks like

Robbie

You know I think that is a great idea, especially for someone with such an impressive WWI British Army family connection as we discovered you have.

Rob

**Battery Command Post** · 01-05-2012, 12:46 AM

by Mark Holden

A small set up of the belt equipment worn by a Lewis Machine Gunner. All apart from the intrenching tool holder are dated 1915 or earlier. The holder is the second pattern and dated 1918. The waist belt is period converted to allow cross straps to be worn with pistol accoutrements.

Mark

Interesting piece. What exactly is the nature of the belt conversion? There was, of course, an issue 1908 belt for this purpose, but in many ways, personal modifications are much more interesting. Are all the pieces original to the belt or have you added any? For completeness, it would need some method of attaching a intrenching tool helve, as on its own, just the blade would be pointless.

i see that it's marked 13th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt. This was a training unit, rather than a combat battalion, which may have some relevance to the experimental nature of the belt?

Nice anyway

Rob