General Service Pattern 1895 Mk IV water bottle

Round blue enamelled iron water bottle constructed in two shallow halves, with neck brazed to the top. Three blue enamelled metal keepers are attached around the edge, one on each shoulder and one on the base, to hold a leather carrier in place (not present). The neck has a cork stopper with a 6 inch long nickel plated brass chain attached to the top, which connects in turn to one of the shoulder keepers. The original khaki felt cover is absent.

This water bottle, introduced in 1895, was soon superceded by the blue enamelled kidney shaped bottle of 1902. Despite this, the Pattern 1895 remained in limited use until the First World War.