Knapsack, Royal Artillery, post-1856 type, 1862 (c)

Made by 'G W', 1862, marked inside to the Royal Artillery.

An example of the knapsacks produced at the end of the Crimean War (1854-1856), it has modified straps and a length of wood incorporated into the top inner edge, which acts as a strengthening stick. This improvement was officially introduced in 1856; however, it is known to have been applied to earlier knapsacks.

The store or issue date of 1893 would appear to indicate that the knapsack was still in use long after the introduction of the valise equipment in 1871.