Compass - how was it worn?

[seaJane]

I bought this recently; the chain appears to be a closed loop, not designed to be opened. The case opens by pressing the top of the stud through which the jump ring passes.

My question is: was the chain secured to the uniform or something else by a strap that passed through the chain, or was the chain meant as a thumb or finger loop while using the compass one-handed?

Thanks in advance!

sJ

 

[TullochArd]

Like all British military compasses these were intended to be secured to the person by a string lanyard. These lanyards were used for all types of pocket and prismatic compasses. Although intuitively the larger loop suggests this went around the neck, as did a pistol lanyard, the larger loop was usually secured by threading it through a webbing strap or belt and stowing the item and spare string in a pocket ready for use.

They were not issued with a chain and the chain you see is likely a later addition. 

Yours is an Anglo Swiss Association pocket watch compass of the most basic, but common, design........notice even the absence of degrees on the card. 1915 seems a popular date for this type and 1915 ASA London pocket watch compasses such as this seem to occupy a serial number range 41388 to 68537.  There were several producers of this identical pattern and some say the "M" further identifies ASA ........ just as "M" and "V" apparently identifies a Dennison manufactured compass of the same design.  The first ones appear around 1905 and they were still being purchased in bulk in 1918.

 

Edited 13 March by TullochArd

[Dave66]

35 minutes ago, TullochArd said:

They were not issued with a chain and the chain you see is likely a later additio

I’d agree, that chain is far too ornate for the military….i have my grandfathers MkV1 that I used in the cadets, I made a lanyard out of a thick bootlace and it served me well like that for a couple of years.

Dave.

[seaJane]

Thank you gentlemen - much obliged .

[healdav]

I still have one dating from 1917, and in its case. It was definitely intended for a lanyard, I wore it around my neck and used it for years.

It went through D of E Award expeditions and Outward Bound, and many other expeditions.