Ammo boxes identification

derk derin · #1 27-09-10, 09:45

Hi All,
A friend of mine that collects militaria and is an avid garage sale shopper called me today to see if I was interested in ammo boxes and oil tins as he was cleaning out his shed and wanted to sell the lot to get rid of it all.I went down and of course like the rest of you would,bought the lot.Some of the boxes were average painted over boxes but I am happy with some of them as they are close to mint as an army ammo box comes and some I have seen before but do not know what they are for and was hoping some of you could help me out with identifying them.This is my haul for today.

This box is marked;
AMMUNITION COMPONENT BOX MK 1
M.C. 1955
1-M-3-apo-206

It is marked for;
FUZES V1C1

This one is well marked and in excellent shape with the packing labels still attached;

This box has been around! It started as a 1942 dated box with 3/1944 packing label.Then stamped in the bottom of the wood,RCD 1951 (REPD),Stencilled again as ASSEMBLED ESQ 2-67,and repacked and inspected on 6/69.It seems it has always held 10 rounds of 12 pounder shells.What would take a 12 pounder shell as I cannot recall ever hearing of this size shell?It is a nice wooden dovetail constructed box with a metal liner inside with the inside of the lid showing the original WWII brown paint.

derk derin · #2 27-09-10, 09:46

Here is another ammo box with its original paint but no markings or paper labels identifying what was packed inside.Anybody have any idea?

derk derin · #3 27-09-10, 09:47

This box is homemade and I would guess used to ship his personal items or used as a footlocker.It was used by a Major C. BROWN of the 14 DENTAL COY.Can anybody tell me by the service number or other markings on the box what conflict this box would have been sent to? Does the ZL 4852 number any indication?

There was also a 1 gallon and 2 gallon flimsy in the pile with the 1 gallon being in very nice shape with black stencilling telling what type of oil was inside.

Can anybody tell me if the oil can spout is military?

derk derin · #4 27-09-10, 09:47

A british 1953 dated jerry can;

a nice WWII greatcoat with Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp buttons,Canada shoulder titles and 3 sets of holes on each eppaulette for Captains pips.The label inside shows ownership to a MR. SCOTT.(Captain Scott of the R.C.A.M.C.?) I would think.How would I be able to research this persons history or existence for that matter?

I also got in the lot a nice pressboard legion crest for my office wall;

More items for the collection! Any help on the box identifications would be appreciated.Thanks,Derk.

Local Chap · #5 27-09-10, 12:57

There is a pretty good forum for identifying Ordnance and Ammo stuff, but they don't have a specific applications list for the C298 box. Nice to see they have another Canadian manufacturer shown.

Clive_Dakers · #6 27-09-10, 23:04

The BOCN forum list is based on a small selection of official documents dated from around WWII. Its all my own work and thanks for the plug Local Chap

I can't tell you much about the wooden boxes but the 81mm mortar box is a B192 mk I. Obsolete in British service now, the mk II superseded it.

Each box has a letter/number code which identifies what it is. It will also have a manufacture date and the initials of the manufacturer.

The 12pr box is Naval, see the large N stamped into the end? W80 is the box code. A large N and the code identifier on the end of the box are typical indicators of Naval boxes. Check to see if there is any Cream coloured paint underneath the brown.

Jon Skagfeld · #7 28-09-10, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by derk derin

This box is homemade and I would guess used to ship his personal items or used as a footlocker.It was used by a Major C. BROWN of the 14 DENTAL COY.Can anybody tell me by the service number or other markings on the box what conflict this box would have been sent to? Does the ZL 4852 number any indication?

Derk:

According to Clive Law's "Regimental Numbers of the Canadian Army", p.60, ZL is the prefix of Regimental Numbers allotted to Regular Force Officers in the Saskatchewan area. Issue of these numbers started in early 1945.

derk derin · #8 28-09-10, 07:08

Hi Clive,
Thanks for your help identifying the boxes.I know what most of them are but was not sure about the wooden box and what the long metal C298 can was for.I was looking for information last spring on .303 stripper clips and came across your B.O.C.N. website and signed up as a member and that is as far as I got.Spring came and the vehicle projects started and the computer time stopped.Once winter hits and the snow is here I will have more time to research items and will definitely be on your site.What is a naval 12 pounder gun?
Regards,Derk.

Hi Jon,
Thanks for the help.I was hoping it fit into the Korea war era as I have a Dental corp tunic with the rank as Major it would go good with.Any chance the serial number carried on to Korea use?
Derk.

tankbarrell · #9 28-09-10, 10:14

Nice find, well done! Just a small point of order though, the 1 gallon and 2 gallon cans are not flimsies and are in fact anything but. They are the standard POL cans.

The flimsie was the 4 gallon petrol can with a tear off seal designed to be used only once. They were made of very thin tin plate, hence the name.

derk derin · #10 28-09-10, 17:46

Hi Adrian,
Thanks for the information.I had always thought the 1 and 2 gallon cans were called flimsies.I have yet to find one of the 4 gallon cans for my collection.Being throw away,I imagine not too many survived.
Regards,Derk.

tankbarrell · #11 28-09-10, 18:11

Hi Derk, you're right, they are a little rare! There is a heavy duty version which has survived in greater numbers. These have a proper screw cap and are stamped WD and dated underneath. I have found two of these in my skip over the years!

Hanno Spoelstra · #12 28-09-10, 21:05

See this thread if you are interested in POL cans and flimsies.

H.

Hanno Spoelstra · #13 28-09-10, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by derk derin

It was used by a Major C. BROWN of the 14 DENTAL COY.

We have a forum member who goes by the name C. BROWN. He is into military things and handles tanks like it is nothing, not sure if he is any good with the more delicate dental work though

H.

PS: nice find!

derk derin · #14 28-09-10, 21:26

Hanno,
If a guy can fix a tank,he can fix a tooth!It would just be made out of cast.

Aidan,
I have seen the 4 gallon cans with the screw top on one of the MLU forums.Will research more later but off to work for now.
Derk.