Among the personal effects of an uncle who was killed at Ypres in December 1915 is a stablebelt.
He was a Private in the 9th Bn Suffolk Regt (a K3 battalion), in 71 Brigade, 6 Division at the time of his death. In September 1915 71 Brigade had been in 24 Division at the battle of Loos.
The colours of the belt are almost exactly those illustrated on the website for the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters: 1" central stripe of dark red between two 1" stripes of dark green. Maroon and Lincoln green would be a fair description. Two other features are at the buckles end a leather pouch fastened by a brass stud through a small slit in the flap over the pouch -- ideal for small change as the website suggests -- and the word RUGBY impressed across the leather which fastens the two leather perforated straps to the webbing belt.
I understood that leather was replaced by webbing in about 1916 for a lot of military uses. In any case this coloured belt seems somewhat 'luxurious' for 1915. Might it have originated pre-1914, and been acquired by my uncle from someone who had no further need of it?
