Hi all, Recently joined but currently researching family history and very interested in the WW2 Recently we found what we believe to be my partners Great Grandfathers "Kit Bag" he served in the British Army in the Worcestershire regiment as a private before becoming a corporal after winning the "Military Medal" (bravery in the field) and then being transferred to the Gloucestershire regiment as a Transport Sergeant. in WW1, we thought this was from his military service in WW1 however it was mentioned in another forum that this could possibly be WW2 I was told "MELF" Stands for: MELF - Middle East Land Forces. A post WW2 British Army Command formed in 1945 from wartime Middle East Command this suggests to me that this isn't from the great war but from WW2 or just after, interesting as i did not know he was in the military during then, his death records indicate he died in 1942 before middle east command was renamed to "Middle East Land Forces" so I think there's a little more going on here I also don't know what the markings "DNABN" stand for. I was hoping if anyone might know a bit more information on items like this? Thanks very much in advance
Hi, The 8 digit number is his army service number. The DNABN letters are his whole draft reference - like a modern bar code so all mens kit from the same draft could be kept together during loading and unloading. MELF is usually used in a post WW2 context. MEF usually indicated Middle East Forces in WW2 (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in WW1) and were forces with a HQ in Egypt. MELF post WW2 would include troops in Egypt, Libya & Palestine (until 1948). It is unlikely to be your grandfathers kitbag if he died in 1942. You could look for Edwards on the General Service Medal database on Ancestry or the casualty database on FMP. He may also be found in the RE tracer card database on FMP - although I think RE are the man’s forename initials. Steve
Yes that is a kitbag but it looks to be a small one like I had as an Army Cadet in the1960's. bought from an Army & Navy Stores. It has a rope through the eyelets which suggests it was last used for social rather than military purposes as soldiers tended to have a D Lock with a padlock on it to stop the contents being tampered with. (Plenty of pictures online, bough by re- enactors). Is that his Name and Army Number stencilled in block capital's? Or was the bag bought from an Army Surplus store years later. If he had an MM in WW1 it should have his name rank and number stamped on the rim. All medals in WW1 were stamped like this but not in WW2.
Thanks for the replies guys really interesting this bag was found in my partners grandmothers attic after she passed away. I am really surprised that it might not be his bag as his name is Edward Reuben Eagle (RE) As I'm aware he served in the first world war and then left shortly after war ended, I've checked his service numbers from WW1 and they do not match the number printed on the top of the bag, but as I'm aware there was a renumbering system in 1922. My thinking was he re-joined just after the 1939 Census as his profession was in bicycle repair on the census and he lived with his wife and daughter at the time of the census. Really odd mystery but interesting non the less.
Ah…. he was called Reuben Edward Eagle so you thought Edward RE might be him. The Edward is the kitbag owners surname and the RE most likely Royal Engineers rather than a second (actually first) initial plus surname initial. I suspect the army service number is of General Service Corps vintage - so issued from summer 1942 onwards to 1948 when a new numbering system was introduced for all 3 services. Steve
I agree but just seemed such a strange coincidence! I have no idea why this man's kit bag was contained in the attic for so long for! Forgive my ignorance, every day's a school day.
Thanks for the clarification Steve, I guess this just opens up a new mystery of who is he and why do I have his kitbag! Thanks for all the help really appreciate it
Corp of military police site says unknown number 14114345 but 4114345 says cheshire regt. an 114345 says rasc and 4345 says rasc
Kitbags were often purchased from market stalls etc or handed round from friends and families. They were handy for stuffing bits and pieces in, to store in the attic. I was told that the smaller white ones were ex Navy as they didn't have so much to carry round. Old Sweats would tell you all sorts of tales.
