[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ron

Here again one has to look at the different manuals to determine the correct box for the era. The first image taken from the 2/3/43 List of Spare Parts depicts the bracket you described, Part No. 586/4. As can be seen, by this date this part had been cancelled.

The second image depicts this bracket positioned in the offside rear compartment front end. As can be seen this is also the position nominated for the radio/battery assemblies. The ammunition box contained in this bracket appears to be of wooden construction given that a rope handle can be seen protruding between the ammunition box and Rations and Cooking Utensils Boxes. It can also see that provision is made for two loose Lewis magazines to be stored along the length of the box.

The third image depicts the new location for either the Lewis or Bren ammunition box and this is in the rear compartment, nearside and central. You can also see that the position for loose magazines is now on the end of the box/bracket. The box also appears to be of metal construction as depicted in Pedr’s post.

The August 1943 Spare Parts Catalogue has Part 586/4 listed but being made up of Part No. 586-2 Bracket, Spare Magazine (1) and Part No. 586-1, Frame, Ammunition Box (1). It further states that Part No. 586-3 Riser (2) (welded to mudguard) is not included. I don’t understand this as mudguards don’t carry anything but the headlights. As I don’t have a 1941 Spare Parts Identification List (7B) I cannot tell whether that Ammunition Box Frame and Bracket Assembly was made up of sub-components as was the 1943 one. Possibly the Part Number was retained even though the frame construction was changed.

Bob