+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Not just any old Mess Tins

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM

    Not just any old Mess Tins

    These Britishicon mess tins were given to my father in the late 1940's by a friend of the family who had served, for the whole of WW2, in the British army, from the start of WW2 until the end. I don't believe that he did anything particularly remarkable while serving his country; he was just an ordinary person trying to do his bit. The interesting thing about these actual mess tins is that they went to Franceicon with him in 1939 with the BEF and were with him when he evacuated off the beaches of Dunkirk. He used them throughout his WW2 service and were with him when he hit the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He then used them on continental Europe until the end of the war.

    Some British soldiers did return with their personal kit from France in 1940.

    I believe that my father used them for camping for a while, before realising that they were of too much historical significance for that.

    Could anyone tell use if the British army still use this style of mess tin, or something different, please? I have seen these tins with relatively modern dates on them.
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by Flying10uk; 10-19-2019 at 08:18 AM.

  2. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Flying10uk For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:06 AM
    I don't believe anyone still uses them. We were probably last to turn them in and yes, mine are here somewhere. I use mine for casting bullets though, they take the hot lead bullets nicely.
    Regards, Jim

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Legacy Member pisco's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Last On
    07-02-2021 @ 04:36 AM
    Location
    aiustralia
    Posts
    156
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:06 PM
    hi they tell a good story on there own

  7. #4
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    I don't believe anyone still uses them. We were probably last to turn them in and yes, mine are here somewhere. I use mine for casting bullets though, they take the hot lead bullets nicely.
    Jim, if your mess tins are of Canadianicon manufacture, I wondered if it would be possible to post a photo of the markings, please?

  8. #5
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM
    Still issued in UKicon, although now only used for heating hot water, to either heat your rations or for shaving, after heating your meal the hot water is used for a brew/or shave........ personally only use them for shaving in the field, I use a a 58 pattern water bottle metal cup for rations and brew (own purchase) as the old hexi cooker had a optional thin steel plate with a cut out for the metal cup.

    They are good for camping etc, I used mine for some fine cuisine when I was Normandy this year, best corned beef hash I've ever had......... good for cooking the Frenchicon equivalent of beans and sausage too.....

  9. Thank You to bigduke6 For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:05 PM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,836
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:06 AM
    I think these are a set of cast off UKicon that I found in Wainwright after BATUS troops departed in the '80's. If I still have a set of CDN I'd have to dig a bit to find them. I'll look...here's the ones I have.

    Remember RSM, they're used for casting bullets not show parade...
    Regards, Jim

  11. Thank You to browningautorifle For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Legacy Member Mk VII's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 07:30 PM
    Location
    England
    Age
    62
    Posts
    1,406
    Real Name
    James West
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM
    Aluminium was only used for them for a short time in 1938-39, as it became reserved for the aircraft industry, so early ones like that are quire rare now. Most wartime ones are tinplated steel (the tin melts when you try to fry things in them and molten globules of tin roll around). In 1945 they started to make them out of aluminium once again.
    The maker is apparently N.C. Joseph of Stratford-on-Avon.
    Pattern 1937 Web Equipment
    Last edited by Mk VII; 10-20-2019 at 01:39 PM.

  13. Thank You to Mk VII For This Useful Post:


  14. #8
    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last On
    Today @ 01:40 AM
    Location
    Centurion RSA
    Age
    73
    Posts
    1,392
    Real Name
    Daan Kemp
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:06 PM
    They make excellent tins for roasting in the oven, cooking on the stove, etc; pity the wife didn't agree often enough.

  15. #9
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM
    Thread Starter
    I do have some more modern 1950's examples (UKicon made) of these mess tins that we used for camping in the 1970's 80's. They were just our normal cooking utensils for camping.

  16. #10
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:06 AM
    We were always told in the PARA's to conserve water because what you carried was it!! and the time it took to boil water.
    Would you believe many Britishicon soldiers and units never realised that when you boiled water out in the ooloo, the smaller mess tin was designed to sit in side the bigger one to save the time it took to boil the water..................."another bit of useless information".
    Other units of course had loads of water in Jerry cans so didn't probably care much about conservation or survival!!
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  17. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Gil Boyd For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. MG34/42- 250 round belt storage in Ammon tins?
    By Flying10uk in forum Other LMG/HMG and SMG Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-11-2017, 06:12 PM
  2. How bad did I mess up?
    By garrettbragg12 in forum M16A2/AR15A2 Rifles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 12-29-2015, 10:08 AM
  3. What kind of Mess?
    By Trung Si in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-31-2013, 05:53 AM
  4. Special .303 Grenade Cartridge tins ....
    By Badger in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-17-2011, 08:29 AM
  5. Reproduction Scope Tins?
    By ickmann in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 67
    Last Post: 03-08-2011, 02:08 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks