Field Service Pocket Book, 1914
The Soldier's Load

Detail

No.

Approximate weight.

Remarks

lbs

ozs

A. — Clothing, &c., worn by the Soldier.

Boots, ankle, pair *

1

4

4

* For kilted regiments substitute:—

• Apron, kilt (0 lbs, 12 ½ ozs)

• Gaiters, Highland (0, 10 ½)

• Garters and rosettes (0, 2)

• Hosetops, (0, 4 ½)

• Kilt (3, 13)

• Shoes, Highland (3, 8)

Braces *

1

0

4 ½

Cap, service dress (or glengarry), with badge

1

0

9

Disc, identity, with cord

1

0

¼

Drawers, woolen, pair *

1

1

½

Jacket, service dress *, and metal titles, with field dressing

1

2

8

Knife, clasp, with marlin spike and tin opener

1

0

8

Troops wearing khaki drill sent on active service from a arm to a temperate climate will be supplied with service dress jackets and trousers as soon as available.

In warm weather the cardigan may be carried in the pack.

Paybook (in right breast pocket of S.D) jacket)

1

0

2

Puttees, pair *

1

0

13

Shirt

1

1

2

Socks, pair

1

0

4 ¼

Trousers, service dress *

1

2

½

Waistcoat, cardigan

1

1

7

TOTAL (A)

14

11

B. — ARMS

Rifles, with oil bottle, pull-through, and sling

1

8

15 ¾

Drummers and buglers are unarmed.

Men of the M.G. detachments will place their rifles in the limbered wagon when the M.G. is removed. Men leading pack animals will carry their rifles slung.

N.C.Os. armed as staff-serjeants have no bayonet. Pipers wear dirks.

Bayonet and scabbard

1

1

8 ¾

TOTAL (B)

10

8 ½

C. — AMMUNITION

Cartridges, S.A., ball, .303-inch, rounds

150

9

0

N.C.Os. equipped as staff-serjeants carry 25 rounds.

Pioneers carry 80 rounds.

Signallers carry 50 rounds.

Drummers and buglers have no S.A.A.

Pipers carry 12 rounds of pistol ammunition.

D. — TOOLS

Implement, intrenching, pattern 1908, head

1

1

5 ¾

Colour-serjeants, N.C.Os., armed as staff-serjeants, pipers and signaller carry no intrenching implements. (For signallers the implements are carried in tool wagons.)

Ditto, helve

1

0

8 ¼

Carriers for ditto, head

1

0

9 ½

Carriers for ditto, helve

1

0

1 ¾

TOTAL (D)

2

9 ¼

E. — ACCOUTREMENTS

Waterbottle, with carrier

1

1

6

The armourer has a waist-belt and two 15-round cartridge pockets, bandolier equipment, pattern 1903; and a great-coat strap and mess-tin strap, valise equipment, pattern 1888.

Web equipment, pattern 1908:—

Belt, waist

1

0

13

Braces, with buckle

2

0

11

Carriers, cartridge, 75 rounds, left

1

0

14 ½

Ditto, right

1

0

14 ½

Frog

1

0

3

Haversack (18 ¾ ozs), with knife (3 ozs), fork (3 ozs), and spoon (2 ½ ozs)

1

1

11

Pack, with supporting straps (2)

1

1

11

TOTAL (E)

8

4 ¼

F. — ARTICLES CARRIED IN THE PACK

Cap, comforter

1

0

4

Nos. 1 to 4 of M.G. section will have their packs carried for them on the march, in the G.S. limbered wagon for M.G.

Holdall (3 ¼ ozs), containing laces (½ oz), toothbrush (½ oz), razor and case (3 ozs), shaving brush ( 1 ¾ oz), and comb (1 oz.)

1

0

9 ¼

Greatcoat, with metal titles

1

6

10 ½

Housewife, fitted

1

0

3 ¼

Mess-tin and cover

1

1

6 ½

Socks, worsted, pair

1

0

4 ¼

Soap

1

0

3

Towel, hand

1

0

9

TOTAL (F)

10

1 ¾

G. — RATIONS AND WATER

Bread ration (unconsumed portion), say

Cheese

Iron ration:—

Biscuit

0

12

Preserved meat (nominal)

1

0

Tea (3/8 oz), Sugar (2 oz), Salt (½ oz); in a tin

0

6 ½

Cheese

0

3

Meat extract, cubes

2

0

1

Water, pints

2

2

8

TOTAL (G)

5

13 ½

TOTAL WEIGHT CARRIED

A.— Clothing worn

14

11

This is the normal weight carried by a private. But exceptions occur in the case of N.C.Os. and certain other ranks (signallers, range takes, &c.).

B.— Arms

10

8 ½

C.— Ammunition

9

9

D.— Tools

2

9 ¼

E.— Accoutrements

8

4 /4

F.— Articles in pack

10

1 ¾

F.— Rations and water

5

13 ½

TOTAL

61

¼