Original Item: Only One Available. By the end of World War I, the use of horses and mules in battle or in transporting or servicing troops with munitions and supplies had mostly been replaced by motorized vehicles. The Soviet Union and other eastern European forces continued to occasionally use mounted cavalry and supply horses during World War II, with great loss of equestrian life from trauma, disease and starvation.

One of the theaters of war during WWII where animals were utilized was in the China-Burma-India, where the narrow mountain passesand the dense jungle would otherwise have made travel of men, munitions and supplies impossible. Even mules, which were used instead of horses because of their sure-footedness and more reliable demeanor, were sometimes unable to scale the most treacherous mountain passes. When they refused to move any further they were, out of sheer frustration and anguish, simply pushed over the edge of the mountains, requiring the men to forge onward carrying mules’ loads themselves.

This large leather medical trunk would have accompanied the units in which animals were utilized, like horses and mules. The trunk itself is marked in black Kanji symbols as being for animal medical supplies and can still be clearly read. The leather is degraded and a lot of the stitching has come undone, but the trunk still sits solid and freely opens and closes. The large leather handles are still completely attached and can sustain the weight of the trunk, but it is not recommended to be carried around by them.

The trunk measures approximately 28” in length, 16” tall / deep and 12” wide.

This is a lovely example of a seldom seen piece of military equipment. Comes more than ready for further research and display.