| Accession Number | REL22201.003 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Metal |
| Maker |
Harvey Shaw & Drake Pty Ltd |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Date made | 1914 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Mounted service mess tin and carrier : Private H Stephens, 14 Field Ambulance, AIF
Description
Circular metal mess tin with a shallow lid. Lid has two brackets to take the mess tin strap. Lower section of the tin has a fold out handle and two brackets for the strap. Name plate on lower half reads "HARVEY SHAW & DRAKE PTY LTD MELBOURNE" in a circular design. In the centre is the date "1914". Contained in a circular light brown canvas carrier closed with a leather and buckle, which also secures the tin to a horse's saddle. Marked broad arrow over "WM" and in indelible pencil "H Stephens / 14622 / AAMC". Marked in pencil on the back "Ismalia".
History / Summary
Standard issue mounted service mess tin and carrier used by Australia during the First World War and until mounted services were discontinued at the end of 1942.
This mess tin and carrier are associated with 14622 Private [William] Harold [Morgan] Stephens, who served on the Western Front with 14 Field Amulance. He developed shell shock and neurasthenia in 1917 when he was blown up while carrying a strecher at Hell Fire Corner near Ypres in Belgium. He returned to Australia in early 1918 and was discharged medically unfit. Stephens did not serve in any mounted service by may have acquired this mess tin in Ismalia, on the Suez Canal, during his passages by troopship to and from Australia.