Original British WWII Pattern 1937 Medic Shell Dressing Shoulder Bag with 7 Field Dressings and Red Cross Armband – dated 1942 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely service used condition British WWII Pattern 1937 (P-37) Medic’s Shoulder Bag, which definitely looks to have seen some real use in the field. The bag measures about 12″W x 10″W x 3″, though as it is flattened it is hard to get an accurate measurement. It is made of the correct P-37 Khaki Canvas, and uses the standard strap through buckle closure for the lid. The shoulder strap is made of somewhat finer canvas.

The interior of the bag bears a maker mark (M&CO), with a 1942 date. M&Co Trading Limited, previously Mackays Stores Limited until its 2020 administration, (previously trading as Mackays, now trading as M&Co.) is a Scottish chain store selling women’s, men’s, and children’s clothes, as well as small homeware products. Its head office is in Inchinnan, Scotland, though its main buying office is in London. Previously, its head office was at Caledonia House in Paisley.

Established in 1834 as pawnbrokers, Mackays switched to selling clothes in 1953 by brothers Len and Iain McGeoch. In 2005 the company rebranded as M&Co. to reflect a more modern image. The chain operates over 300 stores and also has an online presence.

M&Co. closed all of its stores in April 2023.

The front of the bag has a very nice but faint painted “Red Cross” medic emblem, and the lid is faintly marked SHELL DRESSINGS, indicating the type of items stored in the bag. Field medics had to carry various different types of field dressings, depending on the type of wound. Lots of gauze was also definitely a requirement. Inside the bag are seven original FIRST FIELD DRESSING pouches, still full, and all appear to be 1942 dated. They look to be unissued, though one pouch is open on one end.

A lovely example of a British WWII Medic Bag complete with dressings, ready to add to your collection!