Oliver Pattern Belt and Accoutrements

The Oliver Pattern belt bears the weight of the water bottle in its carrier; the bayonet and scabbard in the "frog"; the valise, a back-pack of sorts; and the distinctive ammunition pouch. This weight is further supported by the yoke and its various straps.

The Water Bottle

The original water bottle was a one pint glass bottle (described as a "pop" bottle in 1899) with insufficient capacity and too great a fragility. The Canadian soldiers showed their contempt for these bottles at the start of the Boer War by smashing them in a heap against a wall as they disembarked from their ships. Subsequently they were issued the round British enamel bottle. At the start of the Great War this had been replaced by the rectangular enamel bottle on a leather sling.

This photo shows the two bottle types. The smaller Oliver Pattern bottle on the right is my own prototype. The case measures 8 1/2" by 3" across the base. It was worn with a belt loop and had a buckle closure at the open neck. 

October 22 correction: Having finally been able to study an original I can say that the internal measure should be 2 1/2". A photo of an original now appears below next to my version. See the later blog for more details.

Bayonets and Scabbards

Bayonets, scabbards, and frogs varied with the rifle issued. At the time of the Boer War the bayonet used in Canada was the Lee-Metford. It was worn in its scabbard in a distinctly Canadian frog with an extra loop to hold "a trenching tool".

By the Grear War Canadian troops were issued the Ross rifle, an excecellent marksman's rifle, but one that jammed in the mud of Flanders. The bayonet got no better praise being too dull to penetrate German greatcoats. In the photo shown below the grouping illustrates the Ross bayonet beside its scabbard and a What Price Glory reproduction of the above Lee-Metford frog. Two things are worth mentioning here. The first is that the Ross bayonet was rescued from a friend whose family had used it for fifty years to dig up dandelions. The second is that the reproduction is made by Ashok, in India, to measurements and patterns I took from the original above. Ashok works for What Price Glory and has the perfect touch making the reproductions of the equipment you see in this blog. These items are for sale and can be purchased through What Price Glory. Here is a link:

                      http://onlinemilitaria.net/shopaff.asp?affid=1497

The "Valise"

Dr. Oliver describes two valises in his patent letter. One is the "magazine bag" which is also illustrated in Tangled Web. This is the model I first struggled with since I had sufficient illustrations to give it a go. Mine is hand stitched and a labour of love. The magazine bag is notable for the two hooks which can swivel inward or outward depending on where the valise is to be worn. It can hang from the yoke straps or be hooked on the loop at the top of the yoke (see later blog post). Comparing it to the old photographs you can see that my canvas is not dark enough.

The other valise, called the "kit bag" by Oliver, is of the style more commonly used in later years. It is hung from the belt only and is further supported by the forward leading straps of the yoke. The example here below is of a prototype in development, again rather lighter in tone than it should be. When the final product is finished I will be sure to show it. The standard mess tin is shown here too.The side pockets are for ten cartridges in packages. The strappings binding the valise are as mystical in their full purpose as the rest of the Oliver Pattern. The valise, when worn, is remarkably inaccessible and I can only imagine that every soldier had to ask help of another to get anything out. It is also not possible to wear the Oliver yoke without the valise, as you will see. So it becomes a necessity regardless of its effectiveness.

Ammunition Pouch

I think the ammunition pouch is what first drew me to the Oliver Pattern. It is no more than a simple leather container for cartridges in packages (it holds 80) but there is a certain flair in design which is irresistible. The boldness of the pointed tab seems so self-aware compared, say, to the utilitarian rectangle of the French pattern of the same period. Someone made a decorative decision beyond the call of duty, and what we have is fashion, not plain function.

The leather is quite heavy on the face and back, like the belt, but is lighter and foldable on the sides and bottom. A broad trapezoidal belt loop is riveted to the back with two brass loops in the upper corners to take the yoke straps. The ammunition pouch was to be worn in the front over the belt buckle. Soldiers found this uncomfortable and inaccessible in combats situations when a soldier had to lie on his belly and reload his rifle. The 1915 modifications used two such pouches, one on each side of the buckle, and with the double brass attachment loops replaced by one in the middle.

Here the two valises are worn as a pair. I have never seen photos of them worn in this manner and rely only on the patent description. More commonly the upper level was used for rolled blankets or the standard canvas kit bag as shown in the photo of the era above. That photo is from about 1898. The soldiers are in the Yukon.