A brass grenadier's match case was found in the northwest corner of the west casemate (Level II) (fig. 47). This is a perforated cylinder with reinforcing bands around the top and bottom. There is a perforated cone in one end. The whole case is 7 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. It was held by two rivets to a brass plate 4.2 by 2.1 inches in size which was sewn to a belt. It was designed to carry a slow match for igniting incendiaries, such as grenades. The slow match and pull ring were not found. A similar specimen is illustrated by Darling (1970, p. 1). It was probably a relic of the British occupation.
The match cord was lit from smouldering tinder in the tinderbox, then kept safe in this match case.
Never knew there was such a thing. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteGorges. Apparently when these grenades were no longer used, the match case remained on the cross belt as part of the uniform.
ReplyDeleteKeith.