Opening of a Carlisle Dressing

[Flying10uk]

I needed to open a Carlisle Dressing today to get the dressing out to place inside a plastic version of the tin which was empty. The copper coated steel container had done it's job amazingly well over the last 75+ years and there was only a small amount of corrosion on the inside of the tin. I chose to open a tin that had started to corrode on the outside and I thought that I would share the experience, of opening the tin, with my fellow forum members.

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[browningautorifle]

First one I've seen opened, I've had a few but always wanted a perfect one.

[Sarge1998]

Amazing preservation, I follow a guy on YouTube who collects and tests military MRE's, Steve1989MREInfo. Here is a list of his 1899-1945 sampling, needless to say 75 years ago and the packaging is still almost new. A month ago he posted the opening and tasting of a 1945 C Ration that if I recall correctly cost him roughly $3,000!

Steve1989 Ration Reviews (MRE) (1899-1945) - YouTube

[browningautorifle]

1945 C Ration

I was issued some of those(circa 1945) when I was in Coronado back in 1974...they weren't worth $3 USD let alone $3000... I don't believe they would improve with age like a fine wine.

[Flying10uk]

How long were WW2 vintage Carlisle dressings used in military service?

[Brit plumber]

How long were WW2 vintage Carlisle dressings used in military service?

I cleared out some bags of kit left over from the RAF Swinderby to RAF Halton move in 1995. In them I found quartz fibre dosimeters, 7.62mm ammo, SLR parts, lots of DKP 1 and 2, WW2 Carlisle dressings and lots of other crap. Most of the expendable items were going in the bin including the dressings so I asked if I could keep some (there were to many to keep all of them) and the regiment chaps couldn’t care less so I picked out a few and the rest went in the bin. They were all repacked into sealed plastic bags in the early 50s and they looked pristine. I still have them somewhere. Not bad service at 50+ years.

[Pukka Sahib]

When I was a pup in the early & mid-50's. We would often open these bandages and use them if you were only "wounded" when playing "Army". We all had WW2 helmet liners, pistol belts and various web gear, some of the more durable items (mess kits, etc.) even from the Great War.