IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AMMU- NITION AND OTHER OBJECTS TO TROOPS UNDER ACTION, AND IN CARS OR VEHICLES EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN SUCH AMMUNITION, AND IN THE MODE OF PACKING THE SAME
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Martin, of Seafield House, Formby, in
the County of Lancaster, Lieutenant Colonel, late commanding
Second Batallion, Fourth, The King's Own Royal Regiment, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AMMU-
NITION AND OTHER OBJECTS TO TROOPS UNDER ACTION, AND IN CARS OR
VEHICLES EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN SUCH
AMMUNITION, AND IN THE MODE OF PACKING THE SAME."
Scaled the 18th September 1869, and dated the 18th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Martin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th March 1869.
I, THOMAS MARTIN, of Seafield House, Formby, in the County of
Lancaster, Lieutenant Colonel, late commanding Second Batallion,
Fourth, The King's Own Royal Regiment, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING
AMMUNITION AND OTHER OBJECTS TO TROOPS UNDER ACTION, AND IN CARS OR
VEHICLES EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN SUCH AMMUNITION
AND IN THE MODE OF PACKING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The rapidity with which ammunition is expended by troops supplied
with breech-loading fire-arms when under action renders it essentially

page_text: necessary that a further supply should be ready at hand when the
soldier has expended his store of cartridges. For this purpose I cause a
light hand car or truck to accompany the troops into action, which shall
contain any amount of ball ammunition, say 1,000 rounds, that can
be conveniently transported therein. By this means not only will
greater confidence be imparted to the men through the knowledge that
they are backed by a reserve of ammunition, but also, the rapid and
useless firing off of ammunition by the men in order to get rid of the
weight they have to carry will be prevented, as they will know that
such weight of ammunition will be supplied again so soon as their stock
is exhausted.
Such cars or trucks are by preference constructed in the following
manner-They are formed with a water-tight body provided with a lid
or cover, also closing in a water-tight manner, so that the car may be
drawn through water without injury to its contents. The handle by
which the car is drawn consists by preference of a pioneer's spade, of
which the blade fits against the bottom of the car while the handle is
secured to the same by means of a clasp. At the back of the body a
loop handle is provided by which it can be lifted or pushed. A small
water-tight compartment is attached to the front of the body to hold gun
spikes, hammer and nails, bandages, pins, lint, and other indispensable
objects for succouring the wounded. One or more saws are fitted at
the sides of the body and pioneer's tools on the lid thereof, whereby
the body will be rendered to a certain extent bullet-proof. The car runs
upon two wheels which are by preference made of such a diameter as to
be exactly six feet in circumference, and on the axle, which is fixed to
and revolves with the wheels, is by preference a worm, in gear with
which is a worm wheel on the body of the car, imparting motion to any
suitable known counting or registering mechanism whereby the distance
travelled by the troops which the car accompanies may be accurately
read off, the dial of the register is by preference made to revolve inde-
pendently of the indicator, so as to be set to zero at any time. Such
ammunition hand cars may also serve as magazines to outposts,
picquets, and trenches, during action the ammunition of the killed and
wounded may be collected in them for future supply, and after action
they may serve to remove the wounded. In time of peace these cars
could be used for the removal of ball ammunition to and from
magazines, or for the issue or collection of blank ammunition, they

page_text: would also prove of great service in judging distance practice, recon-
noitering, route marching, laying out lines for trenches, and bases for
surveys. Instead of ammunition, some of these cars may be used to
carry intrenching tools, or be fitted with surgical instruments and a few
useful medicines.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing a skeleton car
consisting of a base either open or otherwise, having two or more
uprights at the sides, and two or more other uprights at the ends, the
axles of the wheels being either fixed at any convenient point on the
side uprights or below them. An ordinary ammunition box is placed
on the base between the uprights, and is there secured either by rods,
cords, bands, or chains passing across from one upright to the opposite
one.
Another part of my Invention consists of an improved mode of
packing cartridges cither in the above-described ammunition car, or in
any other packing cases. In the present system of packing, the cart-
ridges are laid side by side alternately in reversed positions in the
separate packages, so that when packed in cases the bases with the
percussion caps are exposed, and on being struck by a bullet the
cartridges consequently explode.
Now my improvement consists in packing the cartridges so that they
all lie in the same direction in the packages, and these packages I so
place in the ammunition cases that the bullet ends of the cartridges face
outwards on all sides of the case. In order to make the packages more
square than they otherwise would be when arranged as above described,
and to economize space I cut off a portion of the projecting rim of the
base disc on four sides, leaving portions of the original circumference of
the disc sufficient for the extractor to act upon. In placing cartridges
arranged as above-described in the soldiers' pouches, I place them verti-
cally instead of horizontally as at present, with the bullet ends upwards.
Also, in placing cartridges packed as at present, that is in alternately
reversed positions in the pouches, I also arrange them vertically instead
of horizontally, with the caps exposed to the back of the pouch as at
present, thereby diminishing the possibility of the cap ends being struck
by a bullet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MARTIN, of Scafield House, Formby, in the County of Lancaster,
Lieutenant Colonel, late commanding Second Batallion, Fourth, The
King's Own Royal Regiment, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Martin, Her special licenco
that I, the said Thomas Martin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Martin, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AMMUNITION AND OTHER OBJECTS TO TROOPS UNDER
ACTION, AND IN CARS OR VEHICLES EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE, ALSO IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SUCH AMMUNITION AND IN THE MODE OF PACKING THE SAME," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Martin, my ex-
ecutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Martin, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
The rapidity with which ammunition is expended by troops supplied
with breech-loading fire-arms when under action renders it essentially

page_text: necessary that a further supply should be ready at hand when the soldier
has expended his store of cartridges. For this purpose I cause a light
hand car or truck to accompany the troops into action, which shall
contain any amount of ball ammunition, say 1,000 rounds, that can be
conveniently transported therein. By this means not only will greater
confidence be imparted to the men through the knowledge that they are
backed by a reserve of ammunition, but also the rapid and useless firing
off of ammunition by the men in order to get rid of the weight they have
to carry will be prevented, as they will know that such weight of
ammunition will be supplied again so soon as their stock is exhausted.
Such cars or trucks are by preference constructed in the following
manner: They are formed with a water-tight body provided with a lid
or cover also closing in a water-tight manner, so that the car may be
drawn through water without injury to its contents. The handle by
which the car is drawn consists by preference of a pioneer's spade, of
which the blade fits against the bottom of the car, while the handle is
secured to the same by means of a clasp. At the back of the body a loop
handle is provided by which it can be lifted or pushed. A small water-
tight compartment is attached to the front of the body to hold gun spikes,
hammer and nails, bandages, tourniquets, plaster, pius, lint, and other
indispensable objects for succouring the wounded. One or more saws are
fitted at the sides of the body, and pioneers' tools on the lid thereof,
whereby the body will be rendered to a certain extent bullet-proof. The
car runs upon two wheels, which are by preference made of such a
diameter as to be exactly six feet in circumference, and on the axle,
which is fixed to and revolves with the wheels, is by preference a worm,
gear with which is a worm wheel on the body of the car, imparting
motion to any suitable known counting or registering mechanism,
whereby the distance travelled by the troops which the car accompanies
may be accurately read off. The dial of the register is by preference
made to revolve independently of the indicator, so as to be set to zero at
any time. Such ammunition hand cars may also serve as magazines to,
outposts, picquets, and trenches. During action tho ammunition of the
killed and wounded may be collected in them for future supply, and
after action they may serve to remove the wounded. In time-of peace
these cars could be used for the removal of ball ammunition to and from
magazines, or for the issue or collection of blank ammunition. They
would also prove of great service in judging distance practice, recon-
in

page_text: noitering, route marching, laying out lines for trenches, and bases for
surveys. Instead of ammunition some of these cars may be used to carry
intrenching tools, or be fitted with surgical instruments and a few useful
medicines.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing a skeleton car
consisting of a base either open or otherwise, having two or more uprights
at the sides, and two or more other uprights at the ends, the axles of the
wheels being either fixed at any convenient point on the side uprights
or below them. An ordinary ammunition box is placed on the base
between the uprights and is there securod either by rods, cords, bands,
or cbains passing across from one upright to the opposite one.
Another part of my Invention consists of an improved mode of packing
cartridges, either in the above-described ammunition car or in any other
packing cases. In the present system of packing, the cartridges aro laid
side by side alternately in reversed positions in the separate packages,
so that when packed in cases the bases with the percussion caps are
exposed, and on being struck by a bullet the cartridges consequently
explode.
Now my improvement consists in packing the cartridges so that they
all lie in the same direction in the packages, and these packages I so
place in the ammunition cases that the bullet ends of the cartridges face
outwards on all sides of the case. In order to make the packages moro
square than they otherwise would be when arranged as above described,
and to economize space, I cut off a portion of the projecting rim of the
base disc on four sides, leaving portions of the original circumference of
the disc sufficient for the extractor to act upon. In placing cartridges
arranged as above described in the soldiers' pouches I place them
vertically instead of horizontally as at present with the bullet ends
upwards. Also in placing cartridges packed as at present, that is,
in alternate reversed positions in the pouches, I also arrange them
vertically instead of horizontally with the caps ends exposed to the back
of the pouch as at present, thereby diminishing the possibility of the cap
ends being struck by a bullet.
Having thus set forth the nature of the several parts of my Invention
I will now proceed more particularly to describe the manner of per-
forming the same, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompaning
Sheet of Drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 shews a perspective clevation of the arrangement of my
before-described hand ammunition car which I employ by preference;
and Figure 2 shews a longitudinal section of the same. The car consists
of a wooden water-tight casing A (which may or may not be lined
with metal, or which may be constructed entirely of sheet metal),
having a hinged door or lid B at one end closing in a water-tight
manner. This case is mounted on light wheels C, C, the motion of
which is communicated to a counter D for indicating the distance the
car has travelled. A pioneer's spade E is secured by a clasp e to the
under side of the car so as to constitute the handle thereof, as at
Figure 1, the blade of the spade being made to fit into a loop at c²; and
upon the shaft of the spade may be strapped a crowbar O, and also a
second handle F, as indicated at Figure 2, for supporting the car in a more
horizontal position. At the other end of the car is fixed a metal loop G,
serving both as a support to the car when in the position as at Figure 1,
and to attach a rope to for hauling it along, or for lowering it into or
raising it out of ditches, trenches, &c.; or such ropes may be attached at
the sides, as at Figure 2, for the purpose of blocking the wheels when
going down hill. A second rail or handle may also be fixed at H. Upon
the front of the car is secured, firstly, a water-tight metal case J for
containing lint, bandages, tourniquets, and such like articles, the cover
being protected by a sand bag K, over which may be strapped a slate or
board L, upon which may be recorded the number of the batallion and
other memoranda. Below this case are secured two bill hooks M, and a
hammer N; and on the sides of the case are carried an axe P, a saw Q,
another bill hook R, as screwdriver S, and any other useful small tool
that may be conveniently secured.
Figure 3 shews a perspective view of my before-described skeleton
ammunition car consisting of an open framed metal base T, with
handlo T', having two side uprights U, carrying the axles of the wheels V
and two end uprights W. The ammunition box represented by the dotted
lines having been placed in position on the base between the uprights it
is secured there by a rod X passed across it through the loops in the side
uprights, and by a cord or chain passed across lengthwise from the onc.
end upright to the other. The disadvantage of supplying ammunition to
troops under action by means of horses or mules is manifest from the
fact that the man or the mule, or both, may become wounded or shot
and the ammunition lost, or sufficient explosion might take place to

page_text: cause the animal to cast his load and become unmanageable. By the
employment of the before-described hand ammunition cars these grave
disadvantages are obviously overcome, and the enormous expense which
has hitherto been incurred through the loss of mules in action will be
obviated.
My "supply car" is so small that it is not likely to attract the
enemy's attention. Its wheels are sufficiently broad to enable it to be
drawn easily over ploughed land. The pioneer in light marching order
in charge of the "supply car," assisted by a drummer or bandsman,
would keep pace with the men of the sub-division, for it must be borne
in mind that the men have to march heavily laden over the same
ground. Moreover, the car being so small and handy it can be lifted on
to narrow pathways, or over ditches and obstacles, and being perfectly
water-tight can be drawn through rivers or streams by means of the rope
attached to it. Supposing the pioneer and the drummer or bandsman to
be shot or wounded the rest of the sub-division would take care not to
desert their car, and many hands would make light work; on level
ground a drummer could draw it for miles.
Figures 4 and 5 shew respectively my improved mode of packing
cartridges in the ammunition boxes and in the soldiers' pouches. The
cartridges a, a, a, are so arranged that the bases ball lie in one and the
same direction in the packages, instead of being arranged alternately in
reversed directions as at present, as shewn at Figures 6 and 7; and in
order to make them form square packages I cut off the projecting rim of
the base b at four places, as shewn at Figure 8. By this arrangement it
will be seen that I am enabled to pack the cartridges in the cases with
the bullet ends (coloured blue) outwards on all four sides; and by
furthermore arranging the inner packages with their base ends against the
base ends of the side outer packages the lines of danger from fire arc
limited to those coloured red, while in the ordinary mode of packing, as
at Figure 6, every end surface of the packages constitutes a line of danger
from fire. In placing the cartridges so arranged in the soldiers' pouches
I still further reduce the danger from fire by placing them vertically
with the bases downwards, as shewn at Figure 5, instead of horizontally
as at present, as shewn at Figuro 7; and even when the cartridges are
packed on the present system, that is, alternately in reversed positions,
it will be evident that the danger from fire will be considerably

page_text: diminished by placing them vertically instead of horizontally in the
pouches.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what
I claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The employment of hand ammunition cars for supplying
ammunition to troops under fire, and for other purposes, substantially
as herein-before set forth.
Second. Constructing and arranging hand ammunition cars substan-
tially as herein-before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings.
Third. The employment of skeleton cars for containing ammunition
boxes constructed substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth. Packing cartridges in such manner that the bases all lie in
one and the same direction, such bases being so formed that they will
allow of the cartridges being made up into rectangular packages,
substantially as described.
Fifth. Constructing the base disc of cartridges with four rectangular
straight edges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. Packing cartridges in ammunition cases, boxes, or barrels,
substantially as and for the purposes described with reference to Figure 4
of the Drawings.
Seventh. Placing cartridges vertically and with their bases downwards
in soldiers' pouches, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. Placing cartridges that are arranged alternately in reversed
positions vertically in soldiers' pouches, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Martin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.