Is this an L4 magazine pouch?

[Longshaor]

I've been told these are auxiliary ammo pouches for the L4 Bren gun - and that the old .303 Bren mags will not fit in it. Can anybody confirm or deny that's what this thing is?



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Thanks in advance!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I don't know what it is! But so far as I recall, we never had aux pouches for the L4 magazines. The extra magazines were carried by the Bren gunners and in the normal pouches within the section. As the rifle and Bren mags were interchangeable, everyone just shared them around without the need for extras.

If the old curved Bren mags don't fit, then I'm lost. Anyone else got any ideas

[nzl1a1collector]

The 'Bandolier' is indeed an early disposable 'auxiliary pouch' for the L4 Brens. I've had a number of discussions with Rog Dennis about the bandolier and the early days of Pattn 58 pouches. The problem was in the very early days of the introduction of the L1A1 SLR rifle and the L4 Bren's there occurred a slight oversight in how the new army was going to carry its ammunition.

You have to remember previously spare ammunition for the Lee Enfields was carried on 5 round chargers in 50 round bandoliers. You of course had the Bren pouches of the Pattn 37 and Pattn 44 webbing available to carry all the sections spare 30 round Bren mags. No problems there.

Along came the L1A1.... with it were 4 spare magazines per rifle..... these were put in the Bren pouches.... now you have displaced Bren mags with no where available to be stuffed into. So until the new larger pouches of the Pattn 58 were available this was an option. A disposable (yeah right) magazine bandolier that could carry four L4A1 magazines. Until recently no one had ever seen these little beasties.

Thats my tale and I'm sticking to it :-p

[Peter Laidler]

The NEXT question must be '..... with your pouches full up with rifle magazines, where did these sit......... presumably on the chest, between the ammo pouches?

It's mind boggling..........

[Brit plumber]

maybe they could be tied around the carriers leg like a leg holster! ;-)

[Kev G]

All mine are all dated 1960 as are all others I have seen.
Anyone got any other dates ?

ATB Kevin

[Mk VII]

They are evidently constructed on the same lines as the utility pouches so presumably were worn in the same way - most commonly halter-style around the neck with the tape passed round the body.

[Longshaor]

Mk VII,

I think you're right about how how they are to be worn however, having tried it, I now understand why these things are disposeable. They sit so high they would be all but inaccessable to the soldier weaing them!

Cheers!

[Ian 0263]

It actually reminds me of a Bandolier - the hooks are the same, the material is the same as those 2 inch mortar bandoliers seen recently - possibly ready loaded L4 Mags we were advised we would get in times of War?

[LesterH]

I have two set of these pouches. British and Canadian. They are usually marked "back "and "front". Origially in the late 1930s the were designed to fit above the 37 patten webbing . Usually over the left shoulder and above the regular, left 37 patt Bren ammo pouch. Thus leaving the right shoulder free to fire the Brengun. Round the neck does not work. In the tops of the pouches are slots to carry approx 5 tracer rounds. Each pouch contains three 30 round Bren mags. I think the idea was the No2 on the Brengun team, unloaded the pouch on the back of the gunner and vise versa. You don't tend to see many of these auxiliery pouch sets. Soldiers found the webbing straps usefull for lashing other equipment and the sets get cut up. I see the comment curved Bren mags don't fit. These pouches need to be stretched. They were made tight to stop rattles. Magazines fit "bullits down" in these pouches. ( correct way if Bren, upside down if SLR)! I have a spare 37 patt neck strap if any one needs one.