Bulk Load Carriage: Harness

Stores Ref. A1/AA 5900 Harness, carrying, infantry
Stores Ref. CN 1023 Harness, carrying, infantry
Stores Ref. 8465-99-976-6256 Harness, carrying infantry

This was another in the wartime 5000 series of codes and, un-helpfully, it was N.I.V.. In principle, this item is a Yoke, rather on the lines of a milkmaid’s. It comprised two long straps, with flared shoulder-pieces, which were folded flat, at right angles and stitched to a connecting piece of 2-inch wide webbing. The flares were either reduction-woven, or made up in sections (as here), which were sewn together in several ways, here a “wrap-around” being used, as opposed to the simpler “sewn-to”. This was off-set towards the rear of each flare, ensuring that the connecting piece lies behind the neck. Laid flat, the four straps splay out and the folding of the Brace elements means the outside face of one half becomes the inside face of the other half. Part-way down, 1-inch buckles on long chapes are stitched to the Braces, which allow the running ends to be doubled back and fastened. Various items could be carried using the Harness - ammunition boxes, mortar round carrying tubes, etc. these. In 1951, LoC C4686 rationalised the N.I.V. code to one in Section CN of C.C.N. The Harness survived to appear in the 1999 edition of Section CN of the Catalogue of Ordnance Stores and Ammunition, though note the missing comma – making this a Carrying Infantry Harness – sick ones, perhaps?! The error was perpetuated until 1999. This example is maker marked "R.P. Ltd." (R. Parkyn Ltd.) and dated 1945. From the Rog Dennis Collection, photographs © R.J. Dennis 2009.