Rigger-made Pouches

An original rigger-made pouch on the right. The coarse-weave canvas appears to be of British manufacture. Imprints on the interior suggest that it held two grenades, as shown in the replica pouch on the left of the photo. The original pouch is fastened by a standard durable-dot press-stud, whilst the replica is fastened with parachute cord (see 505th photo below).

Another original pouch, with sides reinforced with white harness material. The flap is again fastened by a standard press-stud, but on this pouch there is no belt loop, just a sling made from thick twine and with a toggle adjustment. The pouch appears to be made for a specific purpose, sadly unknown now.

A classic photo of the 505th in Normandy at the end of June/beginning of July 1944.

This haggard-looking Sergeant shows some interesting uniform items :

Shortened M1910 E-Tool.
Waterbottle fixed on upper belt eyelets directly above E-Tool.
Small-mesh British-made helmet net (common in the 505th in Normandy).
Sergeant stripes very high up the arm!
Armflag attached below stripes (now hanging off, attached only by lower edge). The fading where the flag was originally attached is clearly visible on the original photo.
He is carrying a GP Ammo Bag.
The white strings on the front of his belt are two rigger-made ammunition pouches, with their flaps fastened by white parachute cord. Such ties were common on the pouches used by the 505th in Normandy. They are extremely impractical and are only seen in the Normandy campaign.