{"product_id":"original-french-wwi-gamelle-individuelle-modele-1852-mess-kit-with-unit-and-depot-marked-haversack","title":"Original French WWI Gamelle Individuelle Modèle 1852 Mess Kit with Unit and Depot Marked Haversack","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrench WWI Gamelle Individuelle Modèle 1852 individual mess kit\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe basic pattern was adopted in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1852\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginally, examples of this pattern were commonly issued with an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003einternal plate or shallow insert\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Gamelle was a simple but indispensable piece of equipment. A French soldier could use it to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecook, eat, carry, or temporarily store food\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wartime example features \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewelded handles\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlso included is a period \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrench haversack\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which remains in great overall condition and retains both front buttons, although the two buttons are not matching.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe underside of the flap carries \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclear unit and depot stamps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which are an especially interesting feature and offer a worthwhile opportunity for additional research into the bag’s issue history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTaken together, this is a very representative and appealing set of original French WWI field equipment. The combination of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModel 1852 Gamelle, surviving lid and chain, period haversack, and identifiable unit and depot markings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e gives the group much more character than an isolated mess tin alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor a collector of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrench WWI equipment, poilu field gear, trench warfare material, ration and mess equipment, or unit marked accessories\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this is a strong and evocative example of the everyday equipment carried by French soldiers during the Great War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44894913626181,"sku":"ONJR26MAHG060","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26MAHG060__01.jpg?v=1776712665","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-french-wwi-gamelle-individuelle-modele-1852-mess-kit-with-unit-and-depot-marked-haversack","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}