| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM07759.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Brass, Cotton webbing |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1916: Uniforms |
| Maker |
Mills Equipment Company |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | 1915-1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Pattern 1908 webbing : Private W G Hoffman, 32 Battalion, AIF
Description
Pattern 1908 webbing waist belt, two shoulder straps and left and right ammunition pouches. The adjustable cotton webbing waist belt has a brass buckle and fittings. At the back are two angled tabs with brass buckles for attachment of the entrenching tool carrier (RELAWM07759.004). The waist belt is marked on the reverse with the maker's details 'M.E.CO [date illegible] L'. The shoulder straps have brass fittings and one is stamped with '1st. CANTERBURY INFT REGT'. Both the left and right ammunition pouches consist of an assemblage of five pockets arranged in a row of two above a row of three. Each pocket has a flap opening secured by double press stud fasteners, except for the lower left pouches which have a brass loop on the end of the flap, with a webbing strap stitched to the bottom which passes through the loop to a press stud on the top of the flap. Each pocket has two internal divisions and are designed to carry three, five round clips of .303 rifle ammunition. The ammunition pouches are fitted with a double hook at each end for attachment to the waist belt, and are further secured by two narrow tabs which pass around the belt and fasten with a press stud on the lower front edge of the pouch. The reverse of the left pouch is stamped 'M.E.CO. 1915. L [broad arrow]', and the right pouch 'M.E.CO. 1916. R [broad arrow]' and '396'.
History / Summary
Associated with the service of 3568 Private William George Hoffman, a labourer from Adelaide, SA. Hoffman enlisted with D Company, 32 Battalion on 1 May 1916 and embarked for England on 12 August. He proceeded to France on 30 December. Hoffman wore this webbing equipment during an attack on the Hindenburg Line near Bellicourt on 29 September to 1 October 1918. Hoffman returned to Australia in August 1919 and was discharged on 2 October.
- Pattern 1908 webbing haversack : Private W G Hoffman, 32 Battalion, AIF
- Pattern 1908 entrenching tool head carrier : Private W G Hoffman, 32 Battalion, AIF
- Scabbard Mark. II for Sword Bayonet, Pattern 1907, Mark. I : Private W G Hoffman, 32nd Battalion, AIF
- 1908 Pattern water bottle and carrier : Private W G Hoffman, 32 Battalion, AIF
- 1908 Pattern entrenching tool helve carrier : Private W G Hoffman, 32 Battalion, AIF