Seeking information on British "medic" canteen

Found one of these on eBay last night. Buy it now so I did after some very limited research. They apparently are somewhat rare and having never seen one prior to last night I believe they are at least uncommon.

I was able to locate several examples, all on auction sites and they seem to bring some big bucks.

But not one of the sites really had any information on them. It is a large canteen with a screw on cup that covers the cork. Earliest example I found was 1942. latest I believe was 1966. The one I found does not have it's cover which all the others did. Has a canvas cover with a top with three snaps on each side.

Based on the name, I would assume it's an issue item to battlefield medics which is why the larger size and the cup.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pm4AA...~H/s-l1600.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YpUAA...~N/s-l1600.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M7IAA...~R/s-l1600.jpg

295 views and no one has any information on this? Might be a record. Post office says it's arriving sometime today. Wasn't due till Monday so we'll see.

Sorry Aaragorn243, I have never seen this style of canteen.....except ....... when a gamer is losing his life force and drinks from a medical canteen and renews his force. I think the British ones had RUM. :D:D:D

BEAR

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Originally Posted by BEAR

Sorry Aaragorn243, I have never seen this style of canteen.....except ....... when a gamer is losing his life force and drinks from a medical canteen and renews his force. I think the British ones had RUM. :D:D:D

BEAR

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You may not be far off. I have seen references to alcohol being carried in these but it seems unlikely.

I thought that British medics used the standard type, British military, water bottle during WW2.

In the UK we have "water bottles" which our American cousins refer to as "canteens". Generally if the "water holding vessel" is British I refer to it as a "water bottle" but if it is American, generally, I will refer to it as a "canteen".

I wonder if BEAR is on the right track because, as I understand it, brandy use to administered as a first aid treatment/treatment in an aid post, before modern drugs were available. We may laugh about it today but I believe it was common practice in the past. Presumably the brandy was stored in something and presumably the amount given to a patient was strictly controlled.

I have seen references to either Brandy or Gin. Gin being used in India as a way to get the men to take their malaria medicine. It was mixed in the gin. But still no specific mention of this canteen. I also found a small wooden barrel issued to a British surgeon in the late 1700’s and a mention of Brandy with that.

Some of the manufacturers:

Harrison Brothers & Howson
Rosebery Metal works company

I'm finding some reference that they were also carried by the Long Range Desert Group specifically for water not alcohol.

I too know of them but have no proof so I left it. Here's the hearsay I can show...one for sale recently. I.M.A. also shows them for sale.



"All-original, totally complete UK WWII Medical Canteen. An unissued example, this canteen is about as fine as they come. The flask is essentially undented (t are a couple of minor dings under the cover's snap fasteners) and shows no signs of rust or other corrosion. In fact, a glance at its interior under even mediocre lighting reveals a mirror-like tinned finish throughout. The flask's bottom is stamped: "The Roseberry Metalworks Co. 1942" along with a ½" broad arrow marking. The cup is in similarly excellent condition, with identical markings (great to find a flask and cup which are perfect, as-manufactured mates!). The original cork stopper is intact, flexible, unchipped, and quite serviceable. The flask's cover is of coarse khaki/brown blanket wool fitted with brown, small-sized spring snaps. And, with the exception of some very minor mothing, it is in excellent condition too, with no cuts, tears, staining, or other typical damage. (Several small spots of moth damage are located under straps and so are essentially invisible; one crater--not a through-and-through hole--measures approximately 3/16" diameter and is on the cover's left front.) All straps are a lovely russet shade, stitched with natural linen thread, and fitted with solid brass buckles. The leather shows few no signs of age, and is essentially as supple and fine as it was on the date of manufacture--64 years ago! These canteens were not only standard issue in the RAMC and Commonwealth medical outfits, but--because of their enormous capacity (is it two liters?)--were a favorite with the Long Range Desert Group as well. Scarce in any condition, it would be very difficult to improve upon this example, and it would be suitable for inclusion in any advanced collection of field equipment, medical gear, or SAS accoutrements."

Since my last post I did see some references to this type of water bottle being of "larger capacity" than the standard British water bottle and that may be it, a larger capacity water bottle that wasn't issued very often. I would really want to see this water bottle up against a standard water bottle, side by side, before I had a sense of the difference in size.

The first cry of the wounded is usually for water so it would make perfect sense for a medic to carry a larger than normal quantity and the small cup would allow a man to be given a drink without putting the whole canteen to his lips where he might spill or contaminate the contents, or just choke himself in his eagerness for a drink. IRRC it was generally considered that the wounded should not be given large amounts of water, even though often desperate for it. Maybe someone with a medical background could speak to that?

Speaking as a first aider, normally one shouldn't and wouldn't give anything by mouth, not even a sip of water. Nothing to eat or drink in case the casualty requires an anaesthetic.

However a casualty stuck on a battlefield for a long period of time would require a certain amount of water to stay alive.

The canteen arrived today and even knowing it was supposed to be big I was still surprised by the size. For a canteen, it's huge. I will see if I can find my normal British canteen to photo with it.

From bottom to top of cup it's 9 3/4 inches

The cup base is 1 3/4 inches across

The cup mouth is 2 inches across

The cup is 2 1/2 inches high

The canteen is 9 inches from bottom to top of neck (cup removed)

The cork is 1 3/4 inches high and sticks out the top 1/2 inch

The canteen at it's widest part is 6 3/4 inches

The canteen depth is 3 1/8 inches

The cup and canteen were both made by the same company and marked the same. Harrison Bros & Howson. Broad Arrow and 1942

When I got it, I couldn't get the cup off. I tried very hot water on the cup but that did nothing. I later tried a small nail puller that I could carefully hook under the cup and pried. Took a few attempts but it finally popped off. Appeared to be covered with cosmolene or some other grease/oil. Smelled like cosmolene. It isn't screwed on, just fits snug with a slight taper. The cork looks brand new. I cleaned the cosmolene off so it goes on and off easily now.

It's very well made and rather heavy. Filled with water even more so I'm sure.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

It isn't screwed on

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Somebody hammered it on and it stuck tight. Glad it came off eventually. Yes, pics to compare when you find the other...for posterity here...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Somebody hammered it on and it stuck tight. Glad it came off eventually. Yes, pics to compare when you find the other...for posterity here...

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I just think it was the cosmolene.

Here's the comparison. The photo of the bottom shows the difference the best. You also have to remember the wool cover adds dimension to the normal canteen.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../wCQ5tbp-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../hkjbQkC-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Rq6gdG8-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../TXbkeWJ-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../oEEzxk4-1.jpg

Quite a size difference. Now we know.

Soldered together with lead solder no-doubt, so one gets a little lead poisoning when having a swig of water.

Goes well with the petroleum residues in the tin the tea gets made in. ;)

Besides, lead poisoning is common enough on active service anyway.:ugh: