Ammunition pouch : British and colonial forces

Brown vegetable-tanned leather ammunition pouch of unidentified pattern. The pouch measures 6 3/4 inches wide, 5 1/4 inches in height and 2 1/2 inches deep when fully expanded. It is made from four pieces of leather - front, back, flap, and gusset, stitched together. A tin-plated copper rivet has been placed at each of the top corners of the pouch for reinforcement. The flap and strap have a decorative incised (tooled) line running along its outer edge. The gusset is made using a more supple oat-grained leather which contrasts with the smooth hard leather of the front, back and flap of the pouch. A one-inch-wide leather strap has been rivetted to the front flap and has a hole to fit the strap over a brass stud which has been affixed to the front of the pouch. The flap and strap have a decorative incised (tooled) line running along its outer edge. Two one-inch-wide leather belt loops have been rivetted to the back with three rivets each, one at the top of the loop and two at the bottom. The maker's name has been punched on the back of the pouch: 'J & B. PEARSE & CO FLORAL STREET LONDON'.

While this type of pouch has been associated with volunteers and naval service, its description does not match any of those given in the List of Changes and no images of this type of pouch have been identified in any available photographs of the period. However, it was not uncommon for equipment to be substituted where particular patterns could not be obtained readily. It is known that the maker J & B Pearse & Co, which was a firm of army, police and volunteer clothiers and a contractor to the War Office, was still trading at 28 Floral Street, Convent Garden and 95/97 Church Street, Bethnal Green in 1902.