Kitbag Collection

Homeward bound, with their great task greatly finished, 1918-19 (b / w photo)
STC359799 Homeward bound, with their great task greatly finished, 1918-19 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Housing poster, The Home I Want, with a quotation from Richard Reiss: You cannot expect to get an A1 population out of C3 homes

Boy scouts boarding a railway train
Boy scouts and others boarding a railway train. Date: circa 1930s

Four soldiers playing darts in an army hut. Date: circa 1940s

Soldiers Refreshment Bar, Victoria Station, London, WW1
Soldiers crowding into the refreshment bar at Victoria Station, London, where they are served by Red Cross workers. 1915

Mug of cocoa at Victoria Station, London, WW1
A returning soldier enjoying a mug of cocoa at Victoria Station, London, with his kitbag at his feet. Date: 1915

Folio of 97 etchings and drypoints of the Western Front, WW1
Page from a German folio of 97 drypoint etchings of the Western Front, 1914-1918, by W Schimmelpflug, 16th Dragoon Regiment. Two German soldiers walking along a country road. Date: 1916

Bronze Statuette - Sgt Grenadier Guards in Marching Order
Bronze Statuette - Sergeant, Grenadier Guards, in Marching Order, by George Edward Wade (1853-1933). Wade sculpted a Peace Memorial with Bronze Figure of Christ at Quarry Bank, Staffordshire

Bronze Statuette - Sgt Grenadier Guards in Battle Order
Bronze Statuette - Sergeant, Grenadier Guards, in Battle Order, by George Edward Wade (1853-1933). Wade sculpted a Peace Memorial with Bronze Figure of Christ at Quarry Bank, Staffordshire

The Hand of Friendship - British Tommy & Tirailleur Algerien
The Hand of Friendship - British Tommy and Tirailleur Algerien, c.1914. By Richard Caton Woodville, RI (1856-1927). Date: circa 1914

Cartoon, A Busmans Holiday, WW1
WW1 cartoon, A Busmans Holiday, by Lawson Wood (1878-1957). He served In France for nearly three years as an officer in the Kite Balloon Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, and at GHQ. Date: 1914-1918

Evacuees leaving hall, September 1939 George Garland Collection West Sussex Record Office Ref No: Garland N18710

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Kitbag: A Glimpse into the Lives of Soldiers and Scouts" Step into the world of soldiers and scouts, where their kitbags hold stories untold. This housing poster, titled "The Home I Want, " portrays their dreams of a cozy abode after long days on duty. Homeward bound, with their great task greatly finished - a poignant black and white photo capturing the relief and exhaustion etched on their faces in 1918-19. Boy scouts boarding a railway train, eager to serve their country with unwavering dedication. In an army hut, four soldiers find solace amidst chaos as they bond over a game of darts. The Soldiers Refreshment Bar at Victoria Station in London during WW1 becomes a sanctuary for weary souls seeking respite from the horrors of war - perhaps finding comfort in a mug of cocoa. A folio containing 97 etchings and drypoints offers glimpses into life on the Western Front during WW1 - each stroke telling tales of bravery and sacrifice. Bronze statuettes depict Sgt Grenadier Guards both in marching order and battle order; symbols of strength that embody resilience. "The Hand of Friendship" captures the unity between British Tommy & Tirailleur Algerien - transcending borders through camaraderie forged amidst adversity. Even amidst war, humor finds its place; depicted in "A Busman's Holiday, " reminding us that laughter can be found even in dire circumstances. Lastly, we see a British Military Recruitment Poster from WW1 beckoning brave hearts to join ranks - an invitation to become part of something greater than oneself. These hints encapsulate snippets from history's pages; reminders that behind every kitbag lies countless stories waiting to be discovered – tales woven by heroes who shaped our world through courage, friendship, and unwavering determination.