British WW1 Mounted Infantry 50 round .303 Bandolier - photos

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I am pleased to share another item from my Collection, a WW1 Mounted Infantry 50 round .303 Bandolier.

This design of Bandolier is more usually associated with the Boer War, interestingly however, this particular Bandolier is maker marked and dated 1914.

The leather Bandolier is 50 inches long, 3.25 inches wide, holds 50 .303 cartridges and is made up of 4 sections each x 10 cartridges, plus 1 section x 6 cartridges and 1 section x 4 cartridges. This particular Bandolier is numbered ' 2439 '.

Prior to 1914, this design of Bandolier underwent various changes.

On 21 August 1896 - LOC No. 8391, the Bandolier's design was altered to reduce the length of the cartridge tubes. At that time, the Bandolier held 50 rounds, they were configured as 4 sections x 10 rounds, and 2 section each x 5 rounds, with the brass bolts which retained the leather closing tabs being placed sometimes through a cartridge tube. Also, these brass bolts did not protrude all the way through to the back side of the Bandolier, and they were prone to become detached from the Bandolier.

Subsequently, to further improve the Bandolier's design, in particular to ensure the brass bolts which retained the leather closing tabs were spaced so as to never go through any of the cartridge tubes, the previous smaller section configuration of 2 x 5 cartridge tubes, was re-configured to 1 section x 6 cartridge tubes and one section x 4 cartridge tubes. Also, because with the previous design the brass bolts were prone to become detached from the Bandolier, they were now extended to go all the way through to the back of the Bandolier's body where they were secured by large brass retaining washers.

These design changes were contained in LOC 8789, and whilst it is undated, we know that it was dated after August 1896 and before 1914.

The 90 round Bandolier more usually associated with WW1, the 9 pouch x 10 rounds of .303 was specified in LOC No. 12424 dated 29 September 1903.

It would appear that both designs of Bandolier, the 50 round .303 and the 90 round .303, were both in use during the early part of WW1 and possibly longer.

Attached are photographs of the complete 1914 Bandolier, sections of the Bandolier both open and closed, the brass retaining washers at the back of the Bandolier, the ' 1914 ' date and the ' 2439 ' number.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A lance corporal wearing the first issue of the Pattern 1902 SD jacket with the removable shoulder straps, he is also wearing an empty 50 round .303 Mounted Infantry Bandolier.

Also, a Canadian ( probably Canadian Mounted Rifles ), wearing the Mounted Infantry 50 round .303 Bandolier.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Pattern 1896 Mounted Infantry 50 round .303 Bandolier - LOC 8391 dated 21 August 1896, showing the brass retaining studs not going through to the back of the Bandolier, and the 2 smaller sections being each x 5 cartridge tubes.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

LOC 8789 - undated ( known to be later than August 1896 ).

LF

[Toby Brayley]

I am pleased to share another item from my Collection, a WW1 Mounted Infantry 50 round .303 Bandolier.

LF sorry to resurrect a nearly 3 year old thread but I thought this might interest you as it did me.

Some Wartime and well and truly post war shots of the Mounted Infantry Bandolier still in use with the 11th Hussars. It seems most peculiar to see them in use well into the 1920s, especially with a regular regiment. I can find no reference as to why they would be worn in the Standing Orders of the period. Perhaps an odd dress regulation for NCOs?

Aldershot 1915 (12th Regiment of Reserve Cavalry)

Meerut, India 1923

Shorncliffe 1926.

[Guest]

In the 11h examples they certainly seem to be worn by SNCOs. The more gongs and the greater the seniority the more likely one appears to be wearing the older version of the bandolier. Maybe an external signal of longer service and possibly pre-war service? Very interesting.

Separately in the Meerut 1923 photo the soldier on the third row extreme left appears to be wearing a Sam Browne. If he was a WOII or WOI I would expect to see him in the front row. Maybe a mounted orderly?

Are these photos accompanied by names of the individulas by any chance? Curious to know if there is a SSM Lemon among them. MG

[Toby Brayley]

Separately in the Meerut 1923 photo the soldier on the third row extreme left appears to be wearing a Sam Browne. If he was a WOII or WOI I would expect to see him in the front row. Maybe a mounted orderly?

Sadly only the names of the officers. The chap in question is a WO2 you can make out a wreathed crown on his arm and on the original photo he has collar badges but they are not of the 11th.

I have had a quick search for a picture of SSM Lemon with no results. I did find out that 1349 T Lemon was appointed paid lance Corporal on 4/2/10, he was awarded the MM in the June 1917 journal and gets a brief mention in the 1916 journal for his actions during the second battle of Ypres in 1915, but I suspect you might already know the above!

Cheers

Toby

[Lancashire Fusilier]

LF sorry to resurrect a nearly 3 year old thread but I thought this might interest you as it did me.

Toby,

Yes, very interesting to see that pattern bandolier still in service at that time.

Regards,

LF

[Guest]

Sadly only the names of the officers. The chap in question is a WO2 you can make out a wreathed crown on his arm and on the original photo he has collar badges but they are not of the 11th.

I have had a quick search for a picture of SSM Lemon with no results. I did find out that 1349 T Lemon was appointed paid lance Corporal on 4/2/10, he was awarded the MM in the June 1917 journal and gets a brief mention in the 1916 journal for his actions during the second battle of Ypres in 1915, but I suspect you might already know the above!

Cheers

Toby

Thanks for looking. He has an obit in one of the XIH Journals in the 1970s.

[Guest]

Toby,

Yes, very interesting to see that pattern bandolier still in service at that time.

Regards,

LF

If memory serves the Mounted Infantry were disbanded only a few years before the Great War and their equipment would have been surplus. In 1914 when kit was thin on the ground it is highly likely it was brought back into service. Given its association with the pre-war period it is easy to see how the older SNCOs might have focused on this by way of differentiating themselves. My speculation. MG

[Toby Brayley]

Given its association with the pre-war period it is easy to see how the older SNCOs might have focused on this by way of differentiating themselves. My speculation. MG

I would agree with you, every single one of them is an "old hand" and is a Sergeant or above. It is not uncommon for 11th Hussars NCOs to still be seen with the 1903 style haversack well into the Great War.

I cant see any practical application of the bandolier in the field during this period whatsoever, and no period photos exists of it in field use with the 11th (but I have seen other units, normally yeomanry) during 14-18. It has no space for the charger clips and would have meant individual loading of each round!

It seems this was also the fashion in the XRH.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

If memory serves the Mounted Infantry were disbanded only a few years before the Great War and their equipment would have been surplus. In 1914 when kit was thin on the ground it is highly likely it was brought back into service. Given its association with the pre-war period it is easy to see how the older SNCOs might have focused on this by way of differentiating themselves. My speculation. MG

Martin,

Remember, my bandolier is clearly dated 1914.

Regards,

LF

[Guest]

Martin,

Remember, my bandolier is clearly dated 1914.

Regards,

LF

Does that mean it was made in 1914? or re-issued in 1914? If the factory had the templates and machinery I wouldn't be surprised that they cranked them up again.

Mounted Inf was only disbanded in 1913, so the gap is small, and maybe they factory was still making the stuff in 1914 for other forces? My speculation.

[Johncapper]

Can anyone tell me if this uniform is part of the mounted infantry he was my great grandfather James Smith from Scotland born in 1887 

[GrantRCanada2]

I was referred to this old thread by someone in a FaceBook forum discussion on .303 leather bandoliers, and feel it is necessary to correct some of the initial information in this thread. 

Lancashire Fusilier posted that both LoC 8391 (21 August 1896) and LoC 8789 (undated) introduced alterations to the original "Bandolier, Leather (.303-inch), Ammunition" (LoC 5873 (6 Jun 1889) ... unfortunately, however, that is incorrect ... LoC 8391 (shortening of cartridge tubes) relates only to the "Bandolier, Leather, Martini-Henry, Ammunition"  - i.e. the Pattern 1882 bandolier for .577/.450 Martini-Henry cartridges.

Only LoC 8789 refers to the .303 cartridge bandolier ...

(I am posting here as "GrantRCanada2" because for some reason I cannot sign under my original forum identity, GrantRCanada.)