Inventories of war: soldiers’ kit from 1066 to 2014 – Telegraph.
A pretty interesting, and quick, photo gallery.
A thousand years, and the soldier’s load hasn’t changed much.
8 thoughts on “Inventories of war: soldiers' kit from 1066 to 2014 – Telegraph”
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Thanks for the post. I will re-visit this one from time to time.
Paul
Great piece. Anyone who has ever been in a ground combat unit can look at the kit going all the way back to Hastings, and imagine himself with it. And can hear in his head the conversations, the jokes, the prayers, and know they are not very different from our own. Such is the eternal brotherhood. It is that visceral understanding that reaches across the centuries which makes Shakespeare’s Crispian speech in Henry V, and Kipling’s Young British Soldier so meaningful.
That was a very interesting link. It must have been a lot of trouble to assemble all that, even with the help of enthusiasts over 9 months. I noted his emphesis on the humble bits of kit. “Every picture has a spoon.”
I carried and used the same MRE spoon all the way through Desert Storm.
And all that is just a starting kit. It doesn’t count the things like machine gun ammo, claymore, spare frags, smoke grenades, illumination flares, trip flares, spare batteries, or other weapons and equipment that are pretty much standard. I get tired just looking at it.
I’m exhausted reading the list…you a “60’s” model? Its so very close to the items I humped in the Central Highlands.
“you a “60’s” model”
Yes. 1st Cav., ’68.
Thought so your list was so very accurate…spot on. Me 173rd ABN BDE ’69. It brought back memories…Welcome home.