Bren Transit Case

[Doug Lavoie]

Japes,
I have a Bren gun Chest for my 1944 Mk11 Ingklis Bren gun. It has the ropes, and a rib that runs around the out side curcumference of the box, half way up it. It must have been to give added protection to the box. It is in the old, origional colors. I traded one of my 4t boxes for it, a couple of years ago.
Doug

[derk derin]

I have an original tag pasted on the inside lid of my bren chest which says;

Chest . . . Bren 1.
containing-
Guns M.G. Bren 1.
Serial No. _______
Barrels spare 1.
Serial No._______
Rods cleaning 1.
Slings web 1.
Springs return 1.
Rods cleaning gas cyl. 1.
Tools cleaning gas reg. 1.
Cans oil 1.
Clips bipod 1.
Tools combination 1.
Barrels rod cleaning
gas cylinder 1.
Brushes wire 1.
Mops 1.
Wallets spare parts 1.
Boxes spare parts 1.
containing
Springs pin firing 3.
Pins firing 1.
Springs stay extractor 1.
Springs plunger post
piston 2.
Stay extractor 1.
Extractor 1.
Plugs clearing 1.

Pullthroughs 1. (handwritten in)

This tag was typewriter made and is very oily but still readable.
Derk.

[Doug Lavoie]

Derk,
Any chance of a picture of the tag and it`s dimensions? I have to check inside mine and see if there is one!
Thanks,
Doug

[derk derin]

Hi Doug,
I wish I knew how to post pictures but haven't been able to figure it out yet as everyone found out when I tried to post pictures of my Ford 3 ton! I am hoping my sister and brother in law can sit down and show me soon, as I have alot of pictures I want to post.As soon as I am able to figure out how,I will post a picture of the tag.As I said,it was soaked in oil and not sure it will show up clear in the photo but it was probably done by the local unit that had the bren.The tag is just a piece of thick paper 3'' wide and 6 3/8'' long and the information was entered by typewriter with black ink.The serial number of the bren and barrel were handwritten in as well as the last entry at the bottom of the list ''pullthrough 1.'' which must have been added after the lists were made up.I have all 3 chests,The Mk1,Mk1* and the Mk2 but the tag was only on one of the lids.My Mk 1 chest has the web strap for the handle as well as my Mk 2 but my Mk 1* had the rope handles.None of them were painted orange inside but my vickers chest is orange as well as my sten crate that held 20 stens.
Derk.

[KEV]

Derk
Is your Bren chest contents list dated ?
I'm very interested to see it has - Clips bipod 1 ,in the list


I would also very much appreciate a picture if possible.

Thanks in advance,Kevin

[Doug Lavoie]

Derk,
Just checked the inside of my transit chest, it is painted orange!
Doug

[derk derin]

Hi Kevin,
The clips,bipod listing baffled me when I read it because I did not know what they meant by it.You have a sketch of this clip that I have never seen before.My list had no date on it nor was it an official form that was filled out but looks like it was locally typed out by whatever unit had the bren on it's supply and glued to the inside lid of the chest.The only thing I can tell you is that it was in the chest for the bren Mk1*.What can you tell me about this clip?I have taken pictures of the chest,it's contents and the list but will have to go to the brother-in-law's tomorrow for lesson #2 in how to download pictures from a digital camera to the computer!I will post the pictures then.
Derk.