Ammunition pouch, Grenadier Guards, pre-1856

Dating from the time of the Crimean War (1854-1856) this black leather Grenadier Guards ammunition pouch bears the regimental badge on the front and is stamped inside with the Board of Ordnance mark, 'BO', which was replaced by the War Department's 'WD' mark after 1855. The pouch is lined with a tin tray, divided into three open compartments, which would have held either loose cartridges or the packets of ten in which cartridges were issued.

Soldiers wore the pouch resting on the right hip. It was either attached to a cross belt or, after the new waist belt replaced the uncomfortable cross belts, attached to a separate pouch belt.