| Accession Number | RELAWM04526.012 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Enamelled steel, Wire |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: The Anzac Story: Gallipoli: Anzac The Landing |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | c 1916-1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
German M1915/7 mess kit
Description
Infantry mess kit of the German M1915/17 pattern, made of steel and enamelled in field grey. Consists of two pieces - an upper lid which can be used as a messing bowl, and a lower food container. Both pieces are marked 'Silesia' in black ink, with the upper section dated '16' and the lower '17'; both their inner faces are convex shaped. The lid section is equipped with a folding steel handle fitted with an equipment strap loop. This handle, when in the lowered position, secures the lid to the lower section using a friction fit; this action has scraped the enamel finish from the lower section through use. When removed from the kit, the handle folds back to allow the lid to be used as a bowl. The lower section is fitted with a swivelling wire carrying handle.
History / Summary
This particular mess kit was fitted to the uniform of the Turkish Private soldier who was on public display in the Gallipoli gallery of the Memorial from the 1985 to 2013. Unfortunately no specific history of this item is known.
This pattern of mess kit is the second of two infantry patterns (the first was the 1910 Infantry mess kit) developed and issued by the German military during the First World War. A cavalry pattern also existed. They were part of a range of German kit issued to or adapted by Turkish forces from 1890 onwards.