Can any members advise what this back pack was used for?

[itt]

I was thinking it might be for machine gun rounds.

Information

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[Sunray]

Ammo, even in MG belts, wouldn't be carried on one's back. I'm guessing something to do with one's mess kit like a single burner stove.
It flat with a roundish shape? Dimensions would help. I think.

[Flying10uk]

Are there any markings of any kind on the canvas or the metal hardware?

Ammo, even in MG belts, wouldn't be carried on one's back.

Are you sure?

[Mk VII]

Rum jar?

[itt]

I cant find any marks anywhere.

The bag is 400mm high, 240mm wide, and 220mm from front to back.

It has some heavy padding at the bottom where it rest on the lower back so it probably carried something heavy. There is padding to the top at the shoulder blade area but its not as thick as the bottom padding.

I only bought this as I found it to be quite unusual.

[Flying10uk]

There's no lid to it by the look of it, is that right?

[itt]

There's no lid to it by the look of it, is that right?

That is correct.

[Flying10uk]

What is the bottom of the pack like? Is tougher than the sides?

I'm still thinking some sort of ammunition carrier/pack? A bit like the US M1 ammo bag, only capable of being carried on the back.

GP M1 Ammunition Bag by Combat Serviceable

Is anyone able to confirm that ammunition is never carried on one's back, please? I thought that it could be but I am not ex-military.

[browningautorifle]

I'm still thinking some sort of ammunition carrier/pack? A bit like the US M1 ammo bag, only capable of being carried on the back.

GP M1 Ammunition Bag by Combat Serviceable

Is anyone able to confirm that ammunition is never carried on one's back, please?

Reference that whole thing...I carried belts in different places but it wasn't very useful to have belts in your ruck on your back. You just have to understand how quickly the weight builds up. The bag you show was carried at the hip or across the belly of the US troop, sometimes Thompson mags or grenades. The other was called the "Musette" bag and is referred to also in that sales pitch, looks like a small pack. We honestly tried to keep our belts in boxes to keep them clean and fit for use as much as possible.

Sad thing about this little bag is I remember seeing them when I was young and there was lots of stuff held over from the old days but never knew what it was for, nor did anyone else. I'm sure it was in communication gear stores it had been sitting, the steel pegs on the bottom are unmistakable. A soup urn, yes, I'd believe that. Never saw them used though, by then we had the US issue thermos boxes.

[Gil Boyd]

Doesn't look British manufactured going by the slide on clips on the base and the three feet. More synonimous to U.S use IMHO.