British “Local Pattern” Magazine Pouch (1960’s – early 1980’s?)

Cold War, Custom and Tailored Items, Early Cold War (1945 - 1968), Experimental, Trials, and Prototypes, Great Britain and Commonwealth, Later Cold War (1969 - 1989), Pouches, Webbing

Sample 1: L1A1 Snap Closure Double Pouch

Cotton canvas material. Each side of the pouch holds a single SLR (L1A1; British FN FAL rifle) magazines for a total of two.

Stamp:

Stamp says “CN/X/11871 LPG 4338”. “X” could mean “experimental” and “LPG” could mean “Local Pattern Germany” [1] although many of these and similar pouches were used far away in Borneo (1963 – 1966)[2] and the Falklands (April – June 1982)[3], possibly even in Aden (Yemen) (1963 – 1967)[4]. Kharkee Web’s quoted information about a pouch with the same stamp indicates it might have been in circulation as early as the Malayan Emergency (1954 [when L1A1 was adopted][5] – 1960[6]) [1].

Similar pouches have been found with “Singapore” written on a manufacturer’s tag [7].

Pouches Opened:

Snaps:

“Tiger AHK” on inside of female side of snap.

Belt Loop:

The upper part of the pouch is meant to slide over the belt. This was so that the pouches would not get in the way of a loaded vest or pack worn above the waist for carrying supplies on long range patrols, a feature that was carried over to the later Pattern 58 SAS drop loop pouches [8].

Usage Photos:

L1A1 Snap Closure Double Pouch:

British SAS:

Both Borneo photos above from [9].

The most famous users were the British SAS, particularly in Borneo.

Royal Marines Commando:

Falklands War.
1970’s. Note Pattern 59 Denison smock on the left and WW2 style Pattern 46 (?) on the right.
Both Royal Marines photos above from [10].

These pouches also appeared in a few photos of Royal Marines from the 1970’s and during the Falklands War (April – June 1982).