Equipment

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Webbing and Equipment Carried

Orginally the PPCLI, along with the RCR, Canadian Garrison Artillery units and some mounted units of th e regular army, were issued the Mills-Burrowes WE'13 (1913 pattern)back-adjustable webbing prior to sailing for England. Gault purchased the webbing, along with uniforms and equipment, with his own funds. The PPCLI wore the WE'13 into France in December 1914 while the battalion was attached to the British 80th Infantry Brigade.In September 1914 most of the Canadian WE'08 (1908 pattern) webbing was withdrawn from militia units and issued to the new CEF battalions at Valcartier. The fact that existing stocks of both patterns were issued to units proceeding over-seas probably accounts for the almost total absence of these uniquely Canadian patterns of web equipment from Canadian collections.

PPCLI soldier shortly after arriving in England. He is wearing the WE'13 pattern webbing with the narrow braces and cartridge carriers with hook and loop buckle.

Left side view of the W08 pattern webbing as used by the PPCLI later on during the war.

Front view - WE'08 (British) pattern webbing issued to Canadians after arriving in England and to the PPCLI shortly after arriving in France

Left view of the WE'08 pattern webbing. Small pack on the left side worn over the SMLE bayonet and the E-tool helve.

The ROSS Rifle - first issued to PPCLI when left Canada in September 1914.

WE'08 pattern laid out.

Battle Order. Gas bag is carried in front for easy access.

The Brodie Helmet with original PPCLI Divisional marking still visible.

Brodie Mk 2 Helmet showing the liner of the period. Very different to the WW2 style. The chin strape is leather.

Mess Tin: The "D" model was first used during the Napoleonic wars. Made from tinned steel with a handle mounted lid, this mess kit was standard issue by the British and Canadian army until replaced by the 1937 model.

The mess tin assembled.

The PH helmet was worn over the head and inside the tunic, the collar was then closed about the lower section of the hood for protection. The PH helmet is constructed of a double layer of light blue-grey flannel, with two glass eye pieces set in metal rims. The 'snout' of the helmet has a metal tube, leading from a rubber mouth piece that is held in the mouth, to the outside of the helmet, where a rubber valve would be usually found (missing on this example).

The long box respirator, became an almost universal mask for Commonwealth troops. This later development had a face mask, held in place by elastic straps across the rear of the head, and a separate filter. The filter was connected to the mask by a long rubber hose, and it was kept in the carry bag, usually strapped to the chest. The face mask was made of a rubber coated material, which, with the passing of time degrades and becomes particularly brittle. This mask was particularly effective against most gases, but when the gases which had a skin blistering agent were used, the earlier PH helmet was reissued to be carried as well.

The S.M.L.E. No.1 Mark 3. It was lighter and handier than the long Lee-Enfield. Used .303 ammunition and had the desired clip feed facility (or “charger loading”, as the British termed it) and possessed an excellent set of open sights.

This was the beginning of the Light Machine Guns for the infantry, (although initially termed an automatic weapon or rifle) the Germans adopted a slightly lighter version of their water-cooled Maxim machine gun to fill the same role in their army. The Lewis gun was in .303" caliber and was air cooled. The action worked on a gas take-off system which operated the bolt and locking mechanism. The magazine was a radial device fixed to the top of the gun, carrying 47 rounds. The air-cooling was assisted by some aluminum fins which were almost the length of the barrel. Together with the housing of the fins this added considerably to the weight of the weapon.