Leather webbing and satchels: Oliver Pattern Yoke

When I was first trying to copy the Oliver Pattern from photos the most elusive part was the yoke and its hooks. Tangled Web had good buckling strap drawings but with the help of the Canadian War Museum I was able to contact a collector with a complete set of everything. He very generously met with me and allowed me to take all the measurements I needed.

This photo shows the What Price Glory reproduction laid over my template. ( 1" squares ). The straps are made longer than the original's to accomodate bigger modern people. The original's length ended at the first holes.

The curious curve cannot be determined except by handling an old artifact. It narrows and splits to form a front and a back leading strap. The 1" back strap has been pinched and sewn to allow for a better, more comfortable lead.

The whole yoke is made from two pieces joined by a "D" reinforcement. This reinforcement doubles back over itself to secure the brass loop, which in turn will hold the "cape brace". The magazine bag hooks can slip through the loop on either side of the "cape brace" when it is in position. The two 3/4" straps are sewn and riveted between the "D" and the yoke.

These straps leading from the back are actually forward attachment straps. They join the front strap at a "Y" buckling piece, while the pinched strap connects to its own 1" buckling piece to attach to the valise behind. Simple, right? And no chance of any small pieces being lost!

To make more sense of this I will show the whole contraption together on a mannequin.

Notice how the straps criss cross under the arms. The weight of the valise and the ammunition pouch both pull downward on the front and so pull the yoke into the wearer's neck. To compensate for this it is easy to cinch up the straps. However this only makes the system even tighter until it is almost impossible to take it off. By contrast compare this photo to the next which shows the British '08 pattern. Here the weight is more equally divided front and back, and the whole arm space is free. A soldier can put this cotton webbing on and off almost like a jacket.

It is no wonder the British insisted that the Canadians leave their leather Oliver Pattern back on English shores when they went to the front.

The cotton webbing, made by the Mills company, avoided multiple pieces and buckles. All the webbing and pack sections were woven to particular widths to eliminate the sewing of frayed edges. Here the strapping is made from two 53" X 2" webbing straps that start on friction buckles at the back of the belt, cross the back, and then join the ammunition pouches straight down the front. Their tab ends go on to become attachment points for the haversack and water canteen. All of this is supported by a 3" belt. Even the weight of a backpack is intended to be borne by the belt rather than by the shoulder straps.

The ammunition pouches have minimal sewing done to them since the looms were designed to create pockets as a woven entity. The snap fastenings on the cover flaps must have seemed very modern. The pouches, with five pockets on either side, held a total of 150 cartridges set into clips of five.

Finally I must show the "cape brace". Two posts ago I showed a photo with the canvas kit bag held by this brace. Here, finally, is the rear view with a rolled blanket.

The correct attire for the Oliver Pattern is the seven button tunic and the stiff service cap. I have been able to study tunics at the War Museum. This tunic, seen here, is the first prototype. It will be for sale soon. The service cap can be bought now from What Price Glory.