The Army Surplus Museum

Belt, Waist, Normal/ Large

The Pattern 44 web belt marked a significant departure from the earlier Pattern 37 design, introducing a lighter, three-section construction better suited to tropical and jungle environments. Designed to improve comfort and adjustability during extended operations, it incorporated features such as grommets for attaching equipment and multiple suspension points for increased stability. Despite these improvements, some soldiers later adopted field-made alternatives using RAF cargo straps recovered from parachute resupply pallets during operations in Borneo.

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United Kingdom

Bag, Bivouac, Waterproof (Army Cocoon)

The Bag, Bivouac (Waterproof) is based on the Macpac Cocoon, a lightweight civilian bivvy developed in the mid-1990s. Its simple, non-structured design allowed a pack to create headspace without poles, offering reduced weight and rapid deployment. Adopted through private purchase by New Zealand soldiers, it proved highly effective in the field and remained in use in various forms through to circa 2015

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New Zealand

Case, Map, G.S. No. 2 Mk. 1/1 (Emergency / Economy Pattern)

By the early 1940s, the original Case, Map, G.S. No. 2 Mk. 1 was redesigned under wartime production pressures. The revised Mk. 1/1 (Emergency or Economy Pattern) eliminated the rigid plywood backing, reducing both material use and manufacturing complexity.
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United Kingdom

M-1988 Individual Combat Load Carrying Equipment (ICLCE)

The M-1988 Individual Combat Load Carrying Equipment (ICLCE) marked Australia’s transition toward synthetic webbing, combining nylon components with woven cotton pouches designed to swell and improve water resistance when wet. Developed from lessons learned with the M-1956, it improved durability, ergonomics, and adaptability for modern combat operations.
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Australia

M-1956 Load Bearing Equipment (Aust)

The Australian M-1956 Load Bearing Equipment was an adaptation of the U.S. M1956 system, modified to suit local operational needs and environments. Combining American design with Australian experience, it provided improved load-carrying capacity and durability for combat operations from the late 1950s through to the 1980s.
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Australia

90 Pattern Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE)

The 90 Pattern Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE) was a modern British load-carrying system introduced in the late 1980s, replacing earlier cotton webbing with a fully synthetic, modular design. Developed for mechanised operations and global deployments, it remained in service for over two decades.

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United Kingdom

Pattern 44 Web Equipment

The Pattern 1944 Web Equipment was a late Second World War British load-carrying system developed for tropical conditions. Lighter, quicker-drying, and more practical than earlier designs, it marked a shift toward climate-adapted and simplified webbing for modern infantry operations.
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United Kingdom

Pattern 37 Web Equipment

The Pattern 1937 Web Equipment was the standard British load-carrying system of the Second World War, evolving from earlier designs into a more adaptable and widely issued set. Used across all theatres, it reflected a shift toward modular equipment suited to modern infantry operations.
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United Kingdom

Cover, Canteen

At first this cover was believed to be an early Singaporean canteen cover dating from the early to late 1970s. However, further research suggests it is more likely of Malaysian origin, either issued by the Malaysian Army in the late 1960s or produced commercially in Malaysia during the 1970s.

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Malaysia

Holster, C, No. 2, Mk 2

The Holster, C, No.2, Mk II was designed to carry the Inglis 9 mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, along with a cleaning rod and spare magazine. It was developed and produced by Canada in the closing years of the Second World War in response to shortcomings identified in the earlier Holster, C, No.1, Mk I—a Chinese-designed holster pattern originally produced for Chinese forces.

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Canada