IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY ACCOUTREMENTS
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Bourke at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th July
1862.
I, JOSEPH BOURKE, of Her Majesty's 29th Regiment of Foot, of Curragh-
leagh, Clanmorris, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY ACCOUTREMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to the waist belt, shoulder belts,
and slings, and is intended to give greater ease and comfort to the soldier,
whether in barracks, on the march, or in action. I propose forming the belt
of ordinary leather, over which is to be placed a strip or band of sheet iron or
other metal, secured around the waist by an ordinary clasp buckle or loop;
the belt is provided with a plate of leather forming a truss, to which it is
attached at an angle for the purpose of preventing any strain or pressure on
the stomach. The shoulder belt is made in one length, and doubled in half at
or about the centre of the back, thus forming a V passing through an oblong
ring attached to the metallic running strap on the back of the belt, the front
ends of the shoulder straps being provided with buckles and short pieces with
hooks, which take into the eyes on the truss or stomach support, and may be
lengthened or shortened as required. The interior of these straps is lined at
the back with webbing, secured at each end, forming a receptacle for the
folded coat when no knapsack is worn, but when the knapsack is worn it is
provided with short slings starting from the top over the shoulders and down
to the breast, where they are secured to the shoulder straps by hooks and eyes,

page_text: the bottom of the knapsack having a strong piece of leather or vulcanized
india-rubber attached to it, which is secured by a hook to an eye or stud on
the short back strap immediately below the V strap, thus throwing the weight
on the lower part of the back, and relieving the chest. The cartridge box is
attached to the waist belt by two leather runners, one passing through a strap
from the centre of the waist.belt to the right side, and the other clasping the
waist belt and strap, and may be moved backwards and forwards at pleasure.
I also propose to attach to and below the clasp or buckle of the waist belt a
piece of sheet metal or stout leather, somewhat of a "crescent" or oval shape,
for the purpose of supporting the abdomen in cases of dysentery, and which
is to be rounded or hollowed to fit the abdomen; over this crescent or oval-
shaped piece I propose to suspend the ball bag so that it shall in part be
hidden from view. I also propose to use in lieu of the ordinary bayonet frog
a narrow runner, having at its lower end a spring swivel, to which may easily
be attached the scabbard, and also the havresack when required, thereby
dispensing with the long neckband now in use. When wearing the greatcoat
the knapsack may be secured as before mentioned by making a button hole
on each side of the breast of the coat to allow of the rings or eyes on the
shoulder straps to pass through; also a hole at back for the same purpose, by
which means the straps and accoutrements can be worn beneath the coat,
which will hang loosely and with more comfort to the soldier.
”
Another portion of my Invention relates to a new construction of "valise
or "hold-all "for the use of cavalry regiments. I proposé using a piece of
waterproof material about seven feet long and four feet wide, and at one end
I secure two strips of material at the ends and one side thereof in a longitu-
dinal direction, the two inner edges being left loose, so as to form a wallet;
the sides of the large piece are then to be folded over and the whole rolled
up, thus forming the valise. When not employed for that purpose it can be
opened and used as a covering for the horse or for the soldier to lie on in case
of damp ground.