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WORLD WAR ONE ERA BRITISH ARMY SADDLE GIRTH – POSSIBLE
ARTILLERY DRIVER'S OR PACK HOWITZER SADDLE GIRTH - WELL
MARKED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
This interesting wool and leather girth
is well identified with a several maker stamps and dates
as a World War One British Army Saddle Girth. The
marks include the British Ordnance Board acceptance
stamp - the classic "Broad Arrow" stamped into one of
the leather safes.
Measuring
35” long and 4” wide, the girth body is
fashioned from tightly woven red wool. The wool
retains an even color with no fading and showing no
significant use or wear. There are a couple of
small snags in the wool probably from handling and
storage through the years, but nothing that negatively
affects the integrity of the wool.
Each end is fitted with a two piece heavy harness russet leather
safe, sewn through all three layers which sandwiches the
end of the wool girth body. Sewn to the safe is a
15" long buckle and billet assembly for attaching the
girth to the saddle. Both billets, buckles and
leather keepers are fully intact and functional.
There are two leather strips which serve as keepers for
what must have been a second strap that overlaid the
girth and the leather strips served to keep the two
straps in line. The leather is live and
flexible with no weak points or damage that affect the
integrity of the leather. The leather surface is
smooth and has not been oil soaked, appearing to be in
very close to "like new" unissued condition.
The top surfaces of both safes are stamped with the
various makers' and probably inspectors' marks, with one
safe date stamped "1914" and the other date stamped
"1916". One safe is also stamped with the British
Army Board of Ordnance acceptance stamp, the "Broad
Arrow" surmounting the numeral "4", likely also an
inspector's identification number. All the stamps
are very legible and complete.
Based on the use of red wool, I suspect this girth was
intended for use with one of the Artillery Driver's
Saddle or perhaps one of the special purpose pack
saddles used to transport one of the pack howitzers used
by the British forces. Based on the number
of makers' stamps, the dates, and the Board of Ordnance
stamp, one has to assume that this was a standard
pattern girth and one that was made in some quantity
during the period.
Whatever the history of this girth may be, it is a very
solid specimen and is certainly from the World War One
era. This would be a nice addition to a collection
and display of British Army Horse Equipment.
(0127) $125
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