Lewis gun magazine carrier

[rpbcps]

My knowledge on Lewis guns is zero, my interest is generally on Thompsons, so I am usually on that forum.

Today though, I stumbled upon a British War Department marked, leather case, manufactured by 'F Ltd' in 1943 for sale.

I am advised it was designed to hold 9 Lewis magazines. These formed part of the machine gun pack saddlery for horses, when they were introduced in Sept. 1916.

This one obviously needs some repair work, internal dividers missing, and some of the straps / buckles are missing, but I thought it was interesting. I also decided to post it on this forum, as I guess it may be of interest to Lewis gun enthusiasts.

Searches on the internet produced few of images of what appears to be these panniers, attached on horses during the First World War, one in India.

More research produced a few more photos and another manufacturer, BHG Ltd. Dated 1942. Back to my usual interest, I know BHG was the British company Barrow, Hepburn & Gale, who also manufactured Thompson ‘reverse lend-lease’  'L' Drum Pouches in 1944.

Complete with straps and fittings.

I could understand these being manufactured for use in the First World War, as there were a lot of horses still being used then. However, I thought it strange they were continued to be manufactured in the Second World War, examples seen dated 1942 and 1943.

Something unusual, I guess Thompson drums could be stored in these too.

Edited May 16 by rpbcps
Added some text

[Chappy]

Thank you for the photos. I have a fascination With the Lewis Gun. I have had opportunites to purchase but right or wrong, I have not done so because of the lack of parts for the Navy Model. All of my select fire guns are shooters and I didn't know enough about the Lweis to feel comfortable buying a gun I might "break." Maybe,... one of these days.

[rpbcps]

14 hours ago, Chappy said:

Thank you for the photos. I have a fascination With the Lewis Gun. I have had opportunities to purchase but right or wrong, I have not done so because of the lack of parts for the Navy Model. All of my select fire guns are shooters and I didn't know enough about the Lewis to feel comfortable buying a gun I might "break." Maybe,... one of these days.

Chappy,

Even deactivated Lewis guns are over £9000 in the UK, when they come up for sale, so even if I wanted one, I could not justify the cost 🫣

I did get myself one of the leather Lewis gun drum panniers though, manufactured by BHG Ltd. and dated 1942. Complete with fittings but missing the internal dividers.

[johnsonlmg41]

edited for clarity

 

 

 

Edited June 10 by johnsonlmg41

[rpbcps]

3 hours ago, johnsonlmg41 said:

Very cool accessory.  LOVE the Lewis gun.   Yes they hold 9 pans.  I think there were some "horse" related units somewhere in WWII?  Horses go where equipment cannot and pack a LOT of gear.   Fairly quiet, traverse rivers/streams, fit in the woods, traverse steep elevations and narrow paths, and use fuel that is everywhere around them. 

 

 

Very nice picture, thanks for posting 🙏🏼

At the weekend I learned some more history about mine. Under the 'Broad Arrow' in the leather is a letter 'I'. I have been told that is the marking for the Indian army.

Edited May 26 by rpbcps
Photo added

[johnsonlmg41]

edited for clarity

Edited June 10 by johnsonlmg41