Full Dress with canteens

[OC Richard]

Came across this interesting photo showing pipers of the Scots Guards on parade wearing canteens/water bottles. I don't think I've seen that before.

The photo would have to be before 1928, I assume.

[Reiver]

A swag....if the 'heat bulb' is over a certain temp. we make canteens a part of the uniform of the day for those working outside.

[Father Bill]

I just earned something new. Thank you!

[Tarheel]

I poked around "on-line" and found an 8 inch, two quart, tin Jarnagin canteen that resembles the photo. These are listed as "post" US. Civil war. I think of Cavalry units on the western plains when I see this design.

Like Reiver stated, if (in the military) you are told to carry water to thwart heat exhaustion, you will carry water. I think a belt clipped canteen wouldn't interfere with the dirk as these seem to.
I, like Richard, would guess this is a pre WW II photo.

[Cavalry Scout]

I tend to think that the photo is pre-World War I. Those round water bottles were replaced by a new model with the 1908 pattern webbing.

Cheers, Mark

[OC Richard]

Good point, I know what you mean, the style worn in World War I. I have one! Blue, they are. I'm guessing they were introduced in 1908, due to the web equipment system worn in WWI being called the "P-08" equipment. Here it is



Here's the P-08 web gear system



I knew the photo was pre-1928 because it was that year the Scots Guards pipers were granted permission to wear feather bonnets by the King, and they have done ever since.

You're right, the ones in the Scots Guards photo is the sort worn during the Boer War



Here's the British Boer War equipment (the pipers above are wearing the same black leather crossbelt and dirk belt that they wear with Full Dress, only the pipers would be wearing that)

[Cavalry Scout]

Brilliant photos! I especially like the ones of the Slade-Wallace equipment. Have you checked out karkeeweb? It is THE place for all things related to British webbing. Here's the section on the 08 pattern kit.

http://www.karkeeweb.com/1908main.html#1908

Cheers, Mark

[OC Richard]

Thanks for that link!

Many years ago, in the late 1970s, I was (briefly) a WWI re-enactor. I had an entire original P-08 webbing set, which at the time cost only around $30. It would be worth a fortune now. At that time reproductions were unheard of, we all wore originals.

Being very skinny at that time, I was wearing an original WWI Black Watch kilt, and an original WWI khaki serge tunic, and an original khaki serge tam. All that stuff is long gone, I sold it all back in the early 1980s.

The pipes I was playing at the time had been played in WWI, by the way.

I recently put together a WWII style Battledress jacket badged for the 1BW, 51st Division. I need to get one of those P-37 belts to go with it (though pipers often wore their Full Dress black leather dirk belts, even in combat zones).

Some of my WWII style stuff



By the way, I think it would be cool to get one of those Boer War water bottles, and a blanket like that, and put together a piper's uniform such as is seen in that photo above of two Black Watch pipers. Are the water bottle cover and blanket dark grey?

[tripleblessed]

OC Richard, I am unceasingly amazed and delighted by your ability to find these things. And grateful you are willing to share.

[Reiver]

Very nice kit there OC.