The 1903 Equipment and its use by the Mounted Sapper.

The Mounted Royal Engineer like may other soldiers of the BEF and Imperial forces are often recognised by the fact that they are equipped with 1903 pattern Bandolier equipment. The Equipment (Not to be called 1903 pattern webbing – an error that Squaddies and newbies such as myself sometimes make when talking about Great War equipment when we start in the hobby) was a result from the experiences of the British Army in the Boer War where bandoliers were used a lot by the Boers and the British and the in-service belt equipment such as the Slade-Wallace equipment were found to have been wanting.

While I won’t go into a detailed history about the 1903 equipment, I will go over a small amount to give some context and then look at my set up and why I use 1903 equipment. If you want to get to know more information then please have a look at the Kharkeeweb website (Link provided below.) which is an excellent site for the history, background and references.

The equipment was brought into service as a replacement for the Valise Equipment Pattern 1888 and consisted of a 5 pocket Bandolier, belt with 4 ammunition pouches and a Great Coat Carrier. This would allow for the carriage of 100 rounds of .303 ammunition (50 in the bandolier, 20 rounds in 2 x 10 round pouches and 30 rounds in 2 x 15 round pouches. Also with the Equipment there would be a Bayonet Frog, GS Haversack, Water bottle with Carrier, D Shape mess tins in a pouch and a pouch for a grease tin.

The equipment was planned for use across the army and could be worn in a variety of ways. However it had a problem – it wasn’t particularly comfortable or easy to put on or take off. One of the major issues was that when fully loaded the load at the rear tended to pull the front of the equipment up. This issue can been seen here in the photo of the men of the Kent Fortress Company RE on the march. The chap on the front right of the photo looks like he is having problems with his kit being pulled up due to the weight of the full mess tin and the greatcoat. (it’s also noted that the unit are not marching with the Bandoliers worn.)

Below is my set up of 1903 Equipment, reflecting a Sapper from Pre Great War period. The GS Haversack is the Mk1 version and has a small pocket on the side. I’ve not included the Mess Tins at this point in time for the photo.

The 1903 Equipment was phased out for the 1908 Equipment which was a far better load carrying equipment but elements of the 1903 equipment would continue on with the Mounted Units, second line units and also with the Territorials who would eventually be issued with the 1908 Equipment when it became available. Some changes were made and one particular item was the replacement of the Mk1 GS Haversack with a webbing haversack, slightly smaller than a 1908 Pattern Smallpack. this was known as the OS (Other Services) Haversack 1911, this was used primarily by cavalry and mounted soldiers. The reason that it was slightly smaller was that some of the personal items that would have been carried by an Infantryman or a field Company Sapper in their 1908 small pack would be carried by the Cavalryman or Mounted Sapper in one of the Saddle Wallets fitted to the front of the UP Saddle.

So for a Mounted Sapper early in the war the configuration would be as shown below. 5 pocket Bandolier, water bottle with carrier and the 1911 pattern haversack.

From November 1914 onwards the Long Bayonet for the SMLE would have been added and this would have been fitted to a bayonet frog from a 1903 Equipment belt. Also shown here is how the Mounted Soldier’s mess tin could have been carried when Sappers would have been employed in the dismounted role. (from November 1914 onwards all of the Field Troops were employed in engineering tasks in the Trenches or on supervising working parties and as such would need to have carried their equipment ).

Also shown here is an example of a Mounted Sapper equipped for the dismounted role, added to his kit he has his Mounted Soldier Greatcoat rolled and worn across his body.

Cavalry would have been very similar but would have used the 9 pouch bandolier rather than the 5 pouch. Also as the war went on there was more use made the original 1903 Equipment, where the need to carry more ammunition was necessary, particularly in the trenches in the dismounted role, this generally saw the use of the addition of the 2x 10 round pouches and the 2 x 15 round pouches. (it’s important to remember that when dismounting for action from the horse there was a further 90 rounds of ammunition carried on the horse around it’s neck in a 9 pouch bandolier.)

The most common item of 1903 Equipment to be seen and worn by Mounted Sappers and Drivers is just the 5 pouch Bandolier being worn on it’s own. What is less common is to see is the “combat load”, which when it was worn it makes the Sapper difficult to spot as he would look the same as most cavalrymen as everyone is wearing helmets, bandoliers etc. At that point you have to start looking for other indicators and that is another blog article for the future.

For me the 1903 Equipment is a useful set of kit to have for doing Living History Displays and events. The equipment covers the pre and early war period easily and can then be adapted to cover Mounted Troops through the bulk of the war. It also allows me to work as a Mounted RE Soldiers and also when I need to display as Great War Yeomanry. For those starting out in Living History just having a 5 pouch bandolier with the uniform can be enough to get in and get started.

References:

The Kharkeeweb site 1903 Equipment Page – http://www.karkeeweb.com/1903main.html#1903