Pattern 44 Webbing

[bigduke6]

On the subject of webbing a mate of mine at work, said he and his muckers were issued with 58 patt webbing during his basic, didn't sound right to me as it was 10-11 years ago, but we had a look on the net and sure enough it was 58 patt.......

[browningautorifle]

issued with 58 patt webbing during his basic

Well, they'll issue old stuff to be consumed. Doesn't matter what because they'll learn the new stuff at unit. We still issue Chromate green combat clothing to sub units for training purpose to save the CadPat uniforms.

[22SqnRAE]

Well, they'll issue old stuff to be consumed.

Jim, Isn't it because the Q Wallers need something to count? Surely new, shiny, good stuff is more 'fun' counting than the dusty, dirty old stuff... Well so it seemed when I was in...

Present myself to Q Counter: "SGT, may I have...?"

Q SGT "No, because it's the last one and if I issue it to you, some one else will go without..."

Q SGT "No, because we have a stocktake coming up and we need to hold on to some stores to count..."

Q SGT "No, you have one already on your record and the damage to it that I can see in your hand was caused by you, Member to Pay..."

Q SGT "No, these new (things) need the CO's authorisation to issue..."

Or... make up your own. Probably nothing that average Digger hasn't heard...

[browningautorifle]

Isn't it because the Q Wallers need something to count?

Well, the first thing they'll tell you is about them not being able to do their job... We signed contracts for manufacture here that no civilian group would ever sign. It was for production over a protracted period of time with financial penalties on us if we cancelled the contracts before natural expiry. Therefore we end up with several patterns of boots on issue at once. Several minor and a couple of major issues of uniform available...and not to mention the different purse they paid out of. The air force had cadpat uniforms before the Infantry and people tried to say it was different because it had a shade of BLUE in it...no, it was paid out of the air force purse. Ours was empty from buying ammo and cam stick...stuff they didn't need.

[Flying10uk]

It's been a long time now....., but I don't remember our 44 stuff from the mid to late 60's having two heights to mount on our belts as shown OR the two position closure buckle. Strange! In my time in Malaya we had both 303 and L4 Brens, Sterlings, Mk5 Stens, Owens and F1's plus AR15's and there wasn't a magazine problem with a single position closure even with grenades and smoke. If there WERE two belt heights as shown I only remember the lower height because as I recall, you could rest the Bren on the right pouch when firing from he waist. I expect a webbing fiend will be able to correct me if I'm wrong so feel free

Here are a couple of other variations in 44 Pattern basic pouches that I have, both with single height attachment for belt. The first one (first 3 pics) is dated 1946 and is maker marked with single attachment for belt. The second pouch (last 3 pics) is, I believe, intended for drivers because it just has a webbing loop on the back, presumably, so that it can be swung out of the way when driving. I think this second pouch is dated 1945 but I am not certain because of the way in which the "9" is marked.

[Flying10uk]

Here is my latest addition to my Pattern 44 webbing collection, a binocular case that is a "Sealed Pattern Sample". I assume that these samples were submitted as production samples to the MOD and then held for future reference?

[Peter Laidler]

The 44 pattern bino cases were a bit of a joke because they were just too small to fit a pair of No2 binos!!!! Well, you could get them in if the case was wringing wet through (which it often was out there I have to admit!) So binos were kept slung round your neck with an SMG sling with the dog clip part around the centre axis bar and tucked under the cross strap. Yes, we did have the belt type pouch issue one-per-man in the rifle companies. I seem to think that was used a a general carry-all. Others who used this '44 and '37 kit will come on board and tell you that when you're 19 or 20, all as thin as a rake there was only so much you can attach to your belt. 2x water bottles each, machette/parang/gollock, pouches, pistol, kitchen sink, fondu set........, you know the sort of thing.

Malaya was the first time I'd ever seen rifles slung muzzle down...., it was the norm.... everyone did it that way..., the Malay Army our Gurkhas, UK Infantry until they left....... that you just got used to although in Australia during work-up training and in Malaya and SVN we didn't have top sling swivels so we couldn't sling our rifles up or down anyway!

But I digress. The really good things were the jungle boots we used on ops and military training days. But alas, no good further up country when the ground was spiked

[Sunray]

"...Australia went to Korea..." Pretty much everybody went to Korea using the same kit with which they went to Normandy. Then add in the reluctance of governments(ours in particular) to spend the money on new kit.
The Pattern 44 kit was supposedly not general issue anyway. Supposedly a “theatre issue”, for units serving in the Far East. It also doubled in the role of a “unit specific” Pattern, being routinely worn by Airborne troops and the Gurkhas, often in temperate zones.

[Flying10uk]

I have these 2 short straps which came with some of the 44 Pattern webbing that I have recently purchased. I am still trying to figure out exactly what they are used for or where they go on 44 Pattern webbing? They may, of-course, be off something else? Is anyone able to clarify what their intended purpose is and if they are 44 Pattern webbing, please?

Many thanks.

[browningautorifle]

They look like a connector strap, a go between others...Peter or someone will be along shortly that used it though.