1888 Pattern Valise Equipment strap : British and colonial forces

Buff leather strap, 1888 Pattern Valise Equipment (of the same dimensions as that described in List of Changes 5996 29 June 1888 and 7667 6 November 1894), designed to secure either a greatcoat or mess tin to the braces. The strap is cut from one piece of 3/4 inch wide leather and measures 37 inches in length. It is folded over a brass single barred roller buckle and secured with two rows of stitching. 5 1/2 inches from the point of the strap there are 9 holes punched at 3/4 inch centres with a second group of 6 holes commencing 18 1/2 inch from the point of the strap. The exact use of this strap is not clear as the dimension and pattern of holes is the same as that described in the List of Changes for a greatcoat strap but this example lacks a double barred buckle. Mess tin straps of the 1888 Pattern are of the same dimensions as the greatcoat strap, but have a single barred roller buckle and had continuous holes along their their entire length. There are no stamped markings. The strap appears to have never been issued or used.

The 1888 Pattern Valise Equipment was also known as the Slade-Wallace equipment, after its two designers, Colonel Slade and Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Wallace. The complete equipment consisted of a waist belt, two ammunition pouches, a pair of braces with movable buckles and a keeper, two greatcoat straps, a mess-tin strap, and a valise to carry clothing, cutlery and other personal equipment. This pattern was issued to British and colonial forces but was replaced with 1903 Bandolier equipment after its performance was criticised in the Boer War. The 1888 Pattern equipment was in service at most for 15 years though some parts such as waist belts, were retained for ceremonial purposes.