WWI Guards Division Forum

Hey everyone-
Is there a source for those "bomber vests" ive seen around? Aside from canvas buckets and wooden crates, were there any other ways grenades were toted for easy handling? Did Tommy ever did a sandbag neck yoke like the Germans seem to do? Im gonna be making a mess of bombs for the event and trying to figure out a better way to keep them at hand, without carrying them, than the small pack, thanks!
-Dan Comes

Hey Dan,
Your question has a pretty complex answer. I am sure Roe or Chad could probably add a lot to what I can give.

First of all, each soldier was to be issued 2 mills bombs to be carried in the tunic pockets. They were merely to carry the bombs for the designated bombers and were not to use them themselves.

Also, bombers began to convert canvas buckets (that I believe were originally for horse oats) to carry grenades, thus our canvas buckets.

The British grenade vests are practically impossible to find. I have never seen an original, but you can still find tons of the US grenade vests (usually for around $20) They are a little different, but with your skills you might be able to modify one to match the Brit style. The Brit version has 10 pockets with brass snaps and a buckle like the SBR. The US version has 11 pockets, regular steel snaps and a different buckle.

As for the sand bags, that is a great option. 12 Days on the Somme talks about how versatile they were. They would use them for everything from carrying grenades, rations, and even the few remains of unfortunate souls hit by artillery. They would also wrap them around there legs to keep their trousers and puttees clean.

That really is a brief overview of methods of carrying bombs during the Great War. I hope that is somewhat helpful.

Beyond that maybe our Bombers Roe and Chad could add some more.

Jim

Hey,

Like Jim said the buckets and the vests as well as the stray sand bag are the way to go. The buckets are 100% correct. there is a special step by step diagram on how to convert them into useful bomb carrying recepticals in one of the bomber manuals I have. I have done this to one of my buckets for that particular purpose. Also as the british Bomb vests are hard to find buying an american one and converting it is not a hard thing to do although it requires a very stout singer sewing machine some gold paint and a lot of patience. I have done this to my american vest with great results. As for people telling you that the brits did not use these vests as they sometimes tell me, that, I have found through research, is a load of crap. I have photographic evidence of bombers wearing the vest in the trenches as well as accounts from several books such as Tommy, and Call To Arms that give direct quotes from bombers about the vest. also like Jim said the sandbag is the swiss army knife of the trench. I also have pics of bombers using both the vest as well as the sandbag when preparing for a battle. For big attacks and manuvers where you are going to be upright most of the time the vest is the best, but for those late night raids a sand bag or bucket is better as you will be laying on your stomach and keeping grenades in the vest will probably cause them to be smashed. You can easily find the vests and buckets on ebay for a good price. If you can find a brit one i would not reccomend wearing it at newville as they are rare and expensive. in the mean time an american vest will do nicely.

Bomber Macgregor

Basically what they said. Try them all, see what works best for you and go for it, as you can see there is plenty of evidence for each method. On a side note I would highly reccomend buying a torch lighter! This has made a world of diffrence for me, any regular lighter seems to work fine untill you get in the trenches. Remember as a bomber you have to be incredibly quick and versitle, and there cant be any time messing around with a non functional lighter! Also, do either of you (Chad, Jim) have an up close picture of the Brit vest? I have seen pictures of them but never a sole picture of the peice up close.