Mike Donoghue Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 I've seen many lists of the kit with which a WW1 soldier went to war. Could someone tell me how different the kit was for the first soldiers of the BEF, and those that arrived in the field later on? My grandfather returned from India before the war. Did any soldiers wear the lighter Khaki drill to France? Thanks very much for your help. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill24chev Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 I believe that the Indian Corps that arrived in F&F in October of 1914 where still wearing their khaki drill. With regard to kit lists it would I think vary in the different corps. I also suspect that Battalion/regiment and other commanding officers would have their own "pet" list of equipment to be carried. There would have been additions as the war progressed, Gas hoods/ Respirators being an example . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 (edited) Can't remember where I found this - but it gives a soldier's eye view of the change. EDIT: Source 1916 36th Ulster division Christmas card (thanks Haydn) Chris Edited 4 May , 2013 by 4thGordons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Donoghue Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Thank you both for your replies. I really like the cartoon depiction ... I think that says it all. If I could ask a somewhat related question. I am writing a fictional account of my grandfather's activities pre and during the war. When soldiers travelled to and from their postings, as my grandfather did, coming home to England before the war, did they travel with their rifles, or were they left there as part of the garrison's armoury? Was it common or uncommon to see an individual soldier on leave, walking through a London neighbourhodd with his rifle slung over his shoulder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin ss002d6252 Posted 3 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Ammunition was to be left in France but no mention is made that the rifle had to be. http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1915/jul/15/soldiers-on-leave-ammunition#S5CV0073P0_19150715_HOC_188 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Donoghue Posted 3 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Thanks very much, SS002. The link was useful. I was wondering, though, about returning home from postings such as India. When my granddad's 1st Munster Battalion moved from the NWF to Burma, he returned home to Aldershot. The 2nd Battalion was stationed there. Just wondering if a soldier was responsible for his own rifle at all times? I don't have any relatives in the services presently. Maybe the modern day process is not much different from the way it was then. Thanks again, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulfrik-the-wanderer Posted 4 May , 2013 Share Posted 4 May , 2013 Can't remember where I found this - but it gives a soldier's eye view of the change. Chris Hey Chris, those illustrations comes from a 1916 36th Ulster division Christmas card. was looking at one whilst helping an audit at a museum archives a few months back. regards, Haydn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 4 May , 2013 Share Posted 4 May , 2013 Thanks. I usually keep a note of all sources but this one was "orphaned"! It may have been posted on here in one of the Christmas card threads. That makes sense because I found it when I was looking for illustrations for a talk on various "Christmases at war". Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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