Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice French WWI Gamelle Individuelle Modèle 1852 individual mess kit, complete with its original bowl, lid, retaining chain, and a period haversack bearing interesting unit and depot markings. The Gamelle was one of the most familiar items of personal equipment carried by the French poilu, serving as a compact cooking vessel, food container, and eating bowl in the field.

The basic pattern was adopted in 1852 during the period of Marshal St. Arnaud and remained in use, with variations, for decades. Constructed of tinned iron, the Gamelle is circular in form with a fitted lid attached by chain. Two loops allowed the mess tin to be secured to the soldier’s pack or carried as part of his field equipment.

Originally, examples of this pattern were commonly issued with an internal plate or shallow insert, often accompanied by a handle, allowing the soldier to separate or serve food more easily. These removable components were very easily lost during field service, and this example is no exception. The inner plate is no longer present, but the main bowl, lid, and chain remain together.

The Gamelle was a simple but indispensable piece of equipment. A French soldier could use it to cook, eat, carry, or temporarily store food, making it one of the most practical items in his kit. Its long service life also meant that the pattern saw use under very different conditions, from mid-19th century campaigning through the mud and trenches of WWI.

This wartime example features welded handles and remains in good service worn condition. The exterior shows expected oxidation, staining, and age from use, but the overall form remains strong and recognizable.

Also included is a period French haversack, which remains in great overall condition and retains both front buttons, although the two buttons are not matching.

The underside of the flap carries clear unit and depot stamps, which are an especially interesting feature and offer a worthwhile opportunity for additional research into the bag’s issue history.

Taken together, this is a very representative and appealing set of original French WWI field equipment. The combination of the Model 1852 Gamelle, surviving lid and chain, period haversack, and identifiable unit and depot markings gives the group much more character than an isolated mess tin alone.

For a collector of French WWI equipment, poilu field gear, trench warfare material, ration and mess equipment, or unit marked accessories, this is a strong and evocative example of the everyday equipment carried by French soldiers during the Great War.