Two Early First Field Dressings

[mark holden]

I have just acquired these two FFD one dated 1911 the other 1914. They are the earliest that I have. In what year were FFD first issued?

thanks

Mark

[tocemma]

Mark,

I believe they date from the latter part of the South African War, though they were were of smaller overall size and possibly only one rather than two dressings. I have an example of this earlier type. On early pre-war SD jackets a smaller FFD pocket is sometimes encountered, so the earlier style dressings must have still been in use for some time after the introduction of Service Dress. I believe either Joe Sweeney or I have answered with a precise date in a previous thread.

I'm sure Joe will be able to give the introduction date but I have a feeling it was around 1909-1910. I have an SD jacket manufactured in 1911 which still has a smaller sized pocket. I'm away from home and all my references at the moment.

There was a revision of mobilisation kit around 1906, when AB64s and identity discs were introduced by an AO of January 1907, and it might have been part of that initiative. I can't quite remember.

Nice find though. Pre-war examples have always been hard to get hold of. Well done!

Regards

Tocemma

[Joe Sweeney]

Mark,

TE is correct in that they go back at least a decade before the Great-War--I'm not with my sources right now to go through the updates and changes.

But the one in general use during the Great War dated to 1911--In RAMC training manuals it is referred to as the pattern 1911.

Prior to that there were minor nit noid changes.

In ~1917 a vial of iodine was added, but this version never really replaced the pattern 1911.

Joe Sweeney

[mark holden]

TM, Joe,

As always great information thank you very much. I was very pleased to get them the result of a poorly listed ebay lot-sometimes the odd gem turns up!

ATB

Mark

[wainfleet]

The Darton Gibbs Company made field dressings in the Boer War. There's a photo of one somewhere in With the Flag to Pretoria. I have had a couple of these and they were never dated, nor is the one in the book.

sometimes the odd gem turns up!

That seems to happen less and less as the world and his dog get more savvy with their searches....

[CROONAERT]

The Darton Gibbs Company made field dressings in the Boer War. There's a photo of one somewhere in With the Flag to Pretoria....

Here's the image referred to (I think) ...

[mark holden]

WF, CROONAERT,

Many thanks.

Mark

[trenchtrotter]

Two more gems for your collection.

TT

[petestarling]

They were first issued from Ordnance in 1870.

Pete Starling

[tocemma]

Pete,

Do you know what form they took? Were they mobilisation stores or was there a permanent issue within units?

Regards

Tocemma