British ww2 webbing belt

[Asil76]

Hi 

I have this single webbing pouch I think is an ammo pouch but I am not 100% sure it is for the British army (WW2) I was hoping someone on here would be able to confirm or not if it is British and WW2 if not what nations and period is it from.

 

Thanks for your help

 

 

 

[coldstream]

From the fact that the pouch is padded and the single brass belt fixing I would say that this is a pouch for carrying the prismatic compass. Can't make out the ink stampings so can't give you a date but these were still being used up to the late 80's at least.

All the best Simon.

[Asil76]

Ahhh yes I didn't think of a compass, the stamp is really hard to make out the top line has the letters MEC and numbers 19  and is either 64 or 45 W I think its 64 but really hard to see and the second line number are 973 - 5 (or 8 or s) 960.  I'm guessing after the MEC is the year date? is it British do you think?

[coldstream]

Yes, definitely  British Army issue, right down to the last four numbers of the last man issued with it written on the back.

Simon.

[Asil76]

Ahh thats really interesting, I wonder who he was.... I'm just not sure of the date :\

[Jerry B]

58 pattern webbing and it does appear to be compass pouch.

http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/1958/components/equipment/equipment_other_carriers.html

[Asil76]

Hi Jerry

Thats Thank you so much, so as 1958 pattern? this would fit with the numbers I think is the year 65 but is really hard to make out.

[Jerry B]

As you suspected, a date of 1964 would make sense.

[Asil76]

Thats great jerry Thanks

[peter monahan]

Well done, you lot!  My only thought was that the closure was of a later pattern, so '58 makes perfect sense.