Mk 1 carrier rear tarp straps
 

Hi, I recently bought a carrier bren gun bag, canvas Canadian type, inside there were two straps which I believe to be the correct type issued with a mk1 carrier to hold on the tarp through the footman loops, I will post up some pictures, does anyone have info on these straps, I am guessing an ex carrier crew member kept the bag and the straps when leaving the army.

kevin.

Here's the pic's straps 1 1/4" wide nearly 7 ft long, end fitting are painted like other candaian carrier straps. just guessing these could be the real deal.

kevin.

I've got the exact same kind of straps. Found them on eBay couple of years ago. The only difference is that mine are 9' long. No stampings other then a "9".

I've got to check the parts book but the remnants of these tarp straps I've seen on wrecks seem to have been in two pieces each with the buckle portion to the tops; tab ends on the lower. You would have had to remove the footman loop, slide the end of the strap over it and re-attach. I also question the type of end on your strap. It looks American and unlike any of the other strap I've even seen (NOS or otherwise) on a Canadian Mk.1. Just my thoughts.

Hi, A very nice chap on here offered up this picture, i can remember reading somewhere the straps were 11/2" wide, mine are 11/4". I am guessing this is a British Carrier in the picture so strap supplier may of been different.

Hi Kevin,

This is the first time I see a canvas bag. I have quite a lot of leather ones and one fiberglass example dated 1944. You say the canvas one is Canadian manufacture only? Must be pretty rare then.

Cheers,

Nice picture, it sure looks like one piece straps. I can confirm Canadian straps were 1-1/4" wide (except the smaller ones for the shovel, etc.) with brass or painted ends held on by two rivets. 1" and 1-1/2" web is much easier to get which makes re-fabricating carrier straps hard. Attached pic is NOS straps both 1" and 1-1/4".

Canadian CT numbered Carrier
 

Kev: I believe the registration in the carrier image starts with "CT". The photo credit belongs to Archives Canada; the caption reads:
'Private R.E. Hill repairing his Universal Carrier, Catania, Italy, 22 August 1943.'

The 64 on the fender is a machine gun battalion in an infantry division, so if this is Italy, 1943 and this is a Canadian carrier, then it belongs to the Saskatoon Light Infantry.