1.
MADCOS WW1 Artefacts Collection
Trench Cap
The WW1 British Army trench cap was issued from 1915 to Tommy soldiers serving in the trenches as it was more practical to wear and carry in their pocket when wearing the brodie helmet as the stiff SD cap proved impractical.
NB NOT YET AVAILABLE
Tunic
This is a replica tunic of the British Military 1902 Service Dress tunic which was used by the British Army in the Great War of 1914 to 1918.
The 1902 Pattern Service Dress tunic was the standard uniform clothing used by the British Army throughout the First World War.
Trousers
Khaki trousers were worn by soldiers on the Western Front as part of standard army uniform.
Braces
To keep trousers up. These were adjustable to fit most men.
Puttees (x2)
Cloth that was wrapped around the ankles and calves providing protection and support against the trench conditions. The puttees were about 6 feet long and 4inches wide and tied with tapes: They were wound in a spiral up the calf to ensure a secure and neat seal between the boots and the trouser-legs. They were inexpensive, but by WW2 had been phased out due to the time required to put them on and concerns about hygiene.
They were no use against trench foot and if worn tightly may even have contributed .
Webbing Belt
Worn around the waist and attached to shoulder straps as a means of attaching and carrying pouches, etc.
Brodie helmet.
Steel helmets were introduced in 1915 when it became apparent that too many soldiers were dying from head wounds caused by flying shrapnel.
They only became mandatory standard issue in the summer of 1916
Rimmed helmets were introduced in 1917. They were painted or worn with a cover to reduce shine. The chinstraps were designed to break in the event of a blast to prevent neck injury.

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MADCOS WW1 ARTEFACTS COLLECTION
TRENCH EQUIPMENT
Tommy Cooker (2 parts)
During WW1 the British soldier was usually fed by regimental kitchens when food was brought up from the rear in insulated containers, but this was unreliable so the British Tommy could buy from the NAAFI shop a Tommy cooker. This small tin cooker contained a petrol gel solution which could be lit very easy even in the wet and wind. The Tommy could boil a brew of tea in his mess tins to keep him warm in the Trench and awake during long hours.
This Tommy cooker is a Current Army Issue but similar to the original WW1
Entrenching Tool Head
Original WW1 1908 pattern entrenching tool head dated 1916
The entrenching tool has a blackened finish and has been lightly greased. It probably hasn’t been used much.
Mills Grenade
No36 Mills grenade was the standard grenade issued to British soldiers from
May 1918 until the 1970's,
The original Mills grenade was patented by William Mills in February 1915
No36 grenade was issued from May 1918 and the main differences were a more rounded body to fit into a grenade discharger better and stronger safety pin ears
This is a replica Mills grenade which is solid resin with no moving parts.
Iodene Ampule and Field Dressing
During the great war 1914-1918 the British army soldier was issued very basic first aid kit which usually consisted of just one first field dressing which he kept in his tunic pocket.
If he was lucky he might have been able to acquire an Iodine ampoule which he would break on a hard surface and then pour the contents over his first
Field dressing to help clean the wound and prevent infection.
These replica has packaging copied from an original with instructions on how to use. Please do not open.
Trench whistle X 2 (One in holder)
Used by officers in order to coordinate attacks
Gas Mask/P or PH Helmet
These hoods were used in WW1 to protect the British soldiers from poisonous gasses.The P (Phenate) Helmet first appeared in July 15th 1915 and replaced the H (Hypo) Helmet/Hood. It was an improvement over the H Helmet by having two glass (mica) eyepieces instead of the single one piece visor and a exhaust valve fed from a metal tube which the soldier held in his mouth on the inside. It was also made from a double layer Greyback wool fabric, one layer of which was impregnated with chemicals.
The cloth on the P Helmet was dipped in Sodium Phenolate and Glycerin which protected the soldier from Chlorine and Phosgene.
The PH (Phenate Hexamine) Helmet replaced the P Helmet in October
31st 1915 and was the same but was also dipped with added chemical
Hexamethylene Tetramine which greatly improved the wearer against
Phosgene and added protection from Hydrocyanic Acid. It was replaced by the
SBR but it remained in service with second line troops, until the end of the war.
The P Helmet and the PH Helmet are often called Hoods and both would be carried in the smoke hood pouch.
Gas Mask Bag / Smoke Hood Pouch
Cotton shoulder bag which was worn by every soldier on the Western front to hold either:
• Smoke hood/ Hypo Helmet
PH " Phenate-Hexamine" helmet .

3.
MADCOS WW1 ARTEFACTS COLLECTION
OTHER
FIT MEN WANTED – ORIGINAL POSTERS BOOK and ROLLED UP AIRCRAFT POSTER
WWI was Britain’s first “total war”, meaning it was the first time the entire British public were involved in the war effort. As such, propaganda was an incredibly important weapon. For the first two years of the war, recruitment was the main focus of propaganda, but after conscription was introduced in 1917, the focus switched to keeping moral up maintaining public support for the war.
Some call WWI propaganda the birth of modern spin. In addition to images, adverts and posters like these, propaganda was used in funding drives for new tanks etc, and the British press were encouraged to plant stories aimed at supporting the war effort e.g. reporting the evils that the enemy were committing e.g. reports of German soldiers parading with babies on their bayonets etc.
British Victory Medal
Medal (also called the ‘Inter-Allied Victory Medal’)
Awarded to all who qualified for the 1914 and 1915 Star, and most who qualified for the
British War Medal, it was never awarded singly.
Reverse is printed with ‘THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914-1919' in four lines, all surrounded by a laurel wreath.
Similar design and ribbon was adopted by other allied nations for their victory medals.
The British War Medal
Approved for issue in 1919 awarded to all British and Imperial forces who took part in active service during WW1 between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
Medals were mostly issued in silver, however 110,000 bronze medals were also awarded to persons who served in Chinese, Maltese and Indian labour battalions.
1914-15 Star
Awarded to all British servicemen who served in any theatre of war between 5 th August
1914 and 31 st of December 1915.
The recipient’s number, rank and name would be printed on the back.
The ribbon colours are red. White and blue for the British Empire
Memorial plaque, ‘dead man’s penny’ or ‘death penny’
This was sent to the families of service personnel who lost their lives in the fighting. They were made of bronze and 1,355,000 were given out. 600 of these were given to women.
They were given with a memorial scroll and many were affixed to the gravestones of the recipients.
Britannia is shown respectfully bowing to the named individual, her left hand is granting a wreath of leaves, symbolic of triumph.
No rank is shown in the named tablet as it was intended that no distinction be made between the sacrifice made by officers and other ranks. At the very base of the plaque a lion, a symbol of British power, is shown defeating the eagle, a symbol of central powers.
Two dolphins represent Britain’s naval power.
The stylised oak leaves are symbolic of the distinction of the fallen individual.
The lion symbolises British strength.
Outbreak of WW1 Newspaper
A reprint of the Daily News from 5th August 1914 when Britain had declared war on
Germany the previous evening.
A complete 8 page broadsheet paper covering all the news of the day and more.
Children’s War replica Pack
The pack contains: Public Info leaflets, Boy’s Own, Women Wanted Poster, School
Essay, Miscellaneous images, Paperwork, Children’s newspaper, Ration book and recipe card
Daily Mail Colour Postcard Pack
During the great war the Daily Mail printed 100's of colour postcards from official war pictures belonging to the Crown as a moral booster for families back in blighty.
Here are 48 reprints of some of the surviving postcards from the original Daily Mail collection. Each WW1 post card features a different military scene on the front and a caption to go with the image on the back.