Haversack. (Mark I.)

The Haversack. (Mark I.) Brown duck, with removable shoulder strap was approved on 8 August 1901 and announced as part of the Accoutrements, naval, Pattern 1901 by List of Changes paragraph § 11110 of 1st July 1902. In contrast to the other entries in § 11110 the description of the Haversack is quite extensive and even includes a table of the major dimensions. It was described as being made of brown dyed linen duck and fitted with a partition, a 2-inch web shoulder strap 50-inches long and a fixed strap 10 ½-inches long by 1 ¼-inches wide. The dimensions were given as; Depth (including flap) 11 ¼-inches (front) and 17 ½-inches (back), Width (at top of bag) 10 ¼-inches (front) 10 ¾-inches (back) and 12-inches (at widest point).

Specification ACD 187 (Approved 15th March 1902) gives further detail, in part, directing that the Haversack have two buttons on the front and one on the back, that the narrow 10 ½-inch strap have four button holes worked there in and that the Haversacks be fitted with two brass buckles.

Adjustment of the shoulder strap is by means of the two double tongued buckles mentioned above and pairs of eyeleted holes in each end the 2-inch strap. The flap is held closed by the two front buttons. The purpose of the narrow strap and button attached to the back is unknown at this stage as the LoC, Specification & Fitting Instructions are all silent on the matter.

The illustrated example is from the Carl Woods collection. Photograph © Carl Woods 2011.