"Broad Arrow" Stamping Info please

[Mike Haas]

Here's a thought. Why not ask the AWM staff or the NZ equivalent if WWII lend-lease kit was broad-arrowed?

All I know is that I can't remember seeing anything short of vehicles - at least as far I noticed, that wasn't broad-arrowed somewhere on it in my years in the Australian Army, but that was 20 odd years after WWII.

I've been in contact with the NZ Military museum. The Asst. Curator there positively ID'ed the "Broad Arrow" as being a NZ marking. What he could'nt answer was that did other British Commonwealths use the "broad arrow" preceded by that specific Commonwealths Identifier??. Hense my question..

Pau S..I just re-read your post..are you saying you were in the Australian Army and that Australia also used the "Broad Arrow" ?? Aren't Australia and New Zealand seperate Commonwelaths??? ..Mike Haas

[Mike Haas]

Read the link and provide your opinion..Badger if you think I'm correct you may want to use it as a sticky...

GovernmentMarks

[Paul S.]

Yes, Australia and New Zealand are very seperate countries. And yes, we used the same broad-arrow branding as the Poms, the Kiwis and the Canadians used with local variations. The link given above by Mike Haas is a good one, although some of the listed markings may be weapons specific.

I can only speak from my vague memory of the webbing, etc. that I wore and used in my day. I remember everything from our shirts and pants made at the Commonwealth Clothing factory to our magazine pouches having a broad-arrow on them somewhere. It was on the tags of the clothing and stamped onto the webbing. Whether all of it was D^D or not is something I don't remember. It's been a few years after all.

[breakeyp]

Simply put: Britain used a sole broad arrow
Canada used a broad arrow in side a C
Australia used Broad arrow in a D or D broad arrow D
South Africa used broad arrow in a U or diamond in a U
India broad arrow often with a I
New Zealand N broad arrow Z on stock of US M1903 I have

Technically speaking the markings are not stampings. A stamp is used to make the marking. In US a stamping is a sheet metal formed part shaped and cut to size in a series of progressive dies. Britain call them pressings. Does this help?