What a great WW1 photo of Arthur Leggat of Springpark, Auchentibber shared here by Isabella Fleming via Alex Rochead! I had wondered what the little separate satchels were for on the leather band around his chest?
Carmen King Gallagher provided the answer by telling me, “Around 1903 the Bandolier was used in the Second Boer War as a replacement. While it was found not suitable for infantry use, during the Great War cavalry and mounted troops used it. The cavalry version had the ammunition pouches you can see on the bandolier in front and another four pouches on the part of the bandolier on the soldiers back providing 90 rounds in total.”
He was likely between 19-23 years old in that photo, assuming it was taken in war years.
Arthur Leggat was born on 28 March 1895 at Springpark to parents Matthew Leggat and Isabella Fleming. He was in the 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) – part of the 1st Cavalry Division. Enlisted Dec. 12, 1915 and Discharged Sept. 12, 1918 as physically unfit, perhaps unwell for duty. The 5th Dragoon Guards served in France and Belgium. His medal rolls are attached, courtesy of Carmen.
He married to Annie Lamont Davidson on 1 August 1934 and they set up home at 14 Stonefield Crescent. They are pictured here at their wedding day and again some time later that decade.
Arthur died aged 67 from Hodgkins Disease on 4 January 1963 at Strathclyde Hospital, Motherwell.
Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said:
Lesley Bethel Is that called a bandolier? I think it held their ammunition.
Anthony Smith YES.
Joe Fletcher Kenneth Leggat is this a relative of yours ?? Michelle Leggat
Kenneth Leggat Joe Fletcher I think that would have been my Granda,s brother who my dad would probably have been named after. Great photo Joe. Cheers.
Lillias Addison This is a picture of my Aunt Annie and Uncle Arthur Leggat.
Yes these are ammunition bandoliers. They each held 3 by 5 round clips of .303 ammunition. Standard issue WW1. WW2 and in to my TA days we had the cloth webbing pouches. Two clips for the Bren in one plus two grenades and/or rifle clips of 6 for the Lee Enfield.303. Yes fired the bolt action .303 in the late 1950s! I could probably still do the rifle drill with it!
As I remember from my Territorial Army days, we trained with old bolt action .303 rifles which had a 6 (or 8?) round magazine. The satchels around the chest may be magazine holders for a weapon.
Superb pictures!