British First Issue 1944 Pattern Web Equipment - Mid 1940s to 1970s

First issue British 1944 Pattern Web Equipment as used from the early post-WW2 period through the 1970s by then supplemented by the introduction of second issue components in the mid 1960s.
Karkee Web 1944 Pattern page - www.karkeeweb.com/1944main.html

[@seumasnatuaighe]

We had 44 pattern webbing in Oman (73) along with OG denims and jungle shirts(!!!). We usually wore the ammo pouches low on the belt without the shoulder straps. Two 44 waterbottles and a fighting knife or bayonet and Ahmed's your uncle. The TOS and SAF troops had 58 webbing in brown and the Iranians had American webbing.

[@RiflemanMoore]

+Seumas na Tuaighe I knew the desert uniform of the period was somewhat lacking but not to that extent! The second issue pouches were the ones with the upper hooks so they could be worn low, will be doing a video on the second issue set soon. Interesting to hear what the regional forces were wearing in terms of kit.

[@seumasnatuaighe]

I forgot to thank you for your very informative video series - Our uniform and kit was pretty informal. Some of us wore green shemaags - I wore an old USMC patrol cap. We carried the old A frame green bergans and sometimes a 44 pack on short patrols. The local forces were generally more lavishly equipped for the desert/mountains with khaki wooly pullies, webbing etc.We had an issue of suede brothel creepers but we wore DMS boots with puttees.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Seumas na Tuaighe Glad you're finding the videos interesting, thank you! Also thanks a lot for the extra information regarding uniform, always interesting to hear personal accounts, especially when regs were relaxed in the field.

[@simonh6371]

The rucksack you show at 1:25 onwards looks very good for it's time, especially compared to the 58 pattern thing we were still issued in the early 90s. That together with the experimental 1975 webbing would have been far better than 58 pattern webbing and pack, more along the lines of the US ALICE system.

[@DevinK]

Found your channel and this video trying to find videos on the Canadian pattern 51 web gear. I haven’t found any yet but I’m still very glad I found your channel it’s very detailed and historical keep up the good work as history you tuber as well I appreciate your work.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm afraid I don't have any of the 1951 Pattern gear myself so I can't help you there but glad you've found the rest of the channel interesting!

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My grandad wore 44 pattern webbing belt and had 44 pattern water bottle when he was in TA in 1963 he went out to Cyprus he did some of other lot wore 37 pattern webbing.

[@IPAColosseum]

Excellent video. Concise and informative. Thanks!

[@RiflemanMoore]

+ibr90 Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoyed!

[@MRDPG59]

the KIWIS (New Zealand ) troops wore a combo of 44 pattern(ammo pouches/ water bottles) with some 1908 pattern back backs attached to US pattern webbing in Vietnam and also mixed in for good measure some 37 pattern IE compass pouch.

[@stevengoodloe3893]

I have a Pattern 44 haversack and could not, for the life of me, figure out what that thin strap around the back was for. Now I know it was to route through the ammo pouches. Thanks!

[@473specop]

Everyone loved the Water bottle carrier, used often with 58 pattern.The Danish army who used a version of 37 had a copy of it. I have a set of Iraqi 44 webbing (Gulf war 1), with an AK magazine pouch on the right hand side.

[@RiflemanMoore]

It's an excellent piece of kit I must say.

[@captainchipshow7358]

Very helpful when my friends and I tried to sew ww2 equipment for our little play pretend games :) and what equipment to put in. I also saw your der untergang comment and I agree it was a nice little touch nice job man!

[@RiflemanMoore]

+CaptainChipSHow Glad you found the video useful, thanks!

[@chriscrocker3589]

Hi. I just found your channel and am enjoying your content. I have a couple of lee Enfields (1946 No5 Mk1 and 1953 No4 Mk2) both with correct bayonets. The No 9 bayonet is serial number correct to my rifle. Q, Please can you advise me what would be the period correct webbing set that was most used with my rifles and were I can look to buy a set. Thanks Chris.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you're enjoying the videos. The No. 5 was commonly used in the jungle so '44 Pattern equipment would be most commonly seen on issue with it. In Europe the No. 4 was still being used with '37 Pattern.

[@jason60chev]

Trying to understand the Basic ammunition pouch. I understand it carrying Bren Gun and Sten magazines, but was it also designed to carry 5 Round clips for the SMLE bolt action rifle? Were the clips just carried loose inside the pouch?

[@RiflemanMoore]

They could also carry Mills bombs and even mortar rounds and yes, 5 round chargers, carried in simple cotton bandoliers. A bandolier carries 50 rounds and it was common for the riflemen in a section to carry two magazines for the Bren in one pouch and a bandolier of rifle ammunition and perhaps a mills bomb or two in the other pouch, this seems to leave the men low on amunition but the section was built around the firepower of the Bren magazines for it were paramount.

[@100mmtubeofjustice7]

sir, just found your channel, too be quite honest, it was a mention about you on Devin Krueger's channel that brought me to you, I have always had a unhealthy? love affair with web gear, I am looking forward to binging on all of your content lol!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Oh what was the mention? I haven't seen his channel, will have to take a look. I hope you enjoy my videos!

[@100mmtubeofjustice7]

it was on a vid he made of the Canadian patt. 51 web gear.

[@damondent1932]

Like your video some great information. I'm building a british royal commando Kit. Still looking for a few items. Been finding them on ebay. Thanks for very informational video love web gear

[@flatmoon6359]

Loads of room for extra water bottles,pity the pack wasn't longer but not as wide, easier to carry maybe, as more central.Where do you did this up from.As an archivists/researcher of esoteric kit your getting bloody good.

[@richardgaffney1394]

I think I have a model 1944 Bergen in Jungle Green, scored from the stores of the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1957 when I was a cadet. The Does anyone know where I can get some good pictures or other way to identify it ? The single picture here is not super clear.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Do you mean the 1944 Pattern rucksack? If you can drop me a photo using messenger over here; facebook.com/RiflemanMoore/ I'd possibly be able to help identify it.

[@wyatth.j.1661]

Hello!! From the states!! I was wondering if you may be able to showcase a set of M51 field kit.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'm afraid not.

[@wyatth.j.1661]

Rifleman Moore that’s perfectly fine!! Well, I’m any case, I’m collecting some M51 equipment, so if at any point in time you decide to, I may have a set ready and I can send it to you to review if you’d like

[@davecoleman2417]

do you know were i can find a 44 pattern watr bottle ot two?

[@kromoism]

Recommendations for best source to find 1937 Pattern or Second issue 1958 Pattern?

[@RiflemanMoore]

+kromoism I'd suggest looking at militaria shows first and foremost, otherwise eBay is always a good place to look.

[@WWIIUK]

if the soldier had components of the 44 pattern webbing in the Indonesian Confrontation (Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation)would the contents be the 44 pattern or the stander issue contents of the 58 pattern webbing. i ask because i am doing research into the kit used by the SAS in the Indonesian Confrontation for an impression. nice video a superb set of webbing. it must have created a lot of hassle with having to adjust all the components. interestingly there was a 1907 specific bayonet frog for the 44 pattern webbing but very few where produced and theirs no evidence of combat use.

[@RiflemanMoore]

+WWIIUK Soldiers speaking in the documentary 'Jungle Green' which is available on KZbin mention spare clothing (often including shorter canvas shoes/pumps seen strapped to the outside of the '44 Pattern haversack) and foot powder, mess tins and rations were a necessity and a hexi stove would be carried for cooking along with water purifying tablets. Building a bivvy was essential at night and men would carry a poncho for this purpose 1944 or 1962 Pattern along with some para cord. The haversack only sufficed for short patrols and the SAS tended to use the old WW2 vintage Bergen during the Confrontation, absolutely rammed with supplies for their prolonged operations. I'm not sure what you're referring to in terms of a '1907 specific' frog, the separate frog shown here will take the 1907 and Indian Pattern bayonets, the photo of the Gurkhas used in the video shows it in use though it's not being used to carry a bayonet.

[@WWIIUK]

thankyou very helpful. there is a picture of the 1907 specific bayonet frog/ sheath in the book British Post-War Jungle Webbing on page 22. the book refers to the 1907 bayonet as the No.1 bayonet, it was a largely experimental piece . is th Bergen the 1942 pattern?

[@RiflemanMoore]

+WWIIUK Sorry for the late reply, the bergen was indeed the 1942 pattern, though sometimes the later rubberised green type or even later produced versions with all the webbing straps in green, the latest I've seen is a 1966 dated example.

[@WWIIUK]

ok interesting thank you and no problem

[@sqike001ton]

So my question is as a British millitara collector if you had to carry a Enfield into battle and your not takes with carrying been gun mags so just .303 ammo and clips what pattern gear would you use personally I would use the 1908 th the later water bottle is prefiable to me

[@RiflemanMoore]

You mean if I had free choice? I'm not sure. I think 1908 would be the obvious choice for capacity.

[@sqike001ton]

yea if you had to go into combat with an enfield what pattern of webbing would you want to use i would like the lower chance of losing clips in the smaller pouches more numerous of the pattern 08

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'd agree with that logic, definitely.