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Royal Artillery driver steel leg gaiter or 'leg-iron'


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#1 Andyshep

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Posted 28 July 2012 - 07:30 PM

I hope I've put this in the right place.
Looking for pictorial reference for the so called 'leg-iron' worn by Royal Artillery drivers to stop their right legs being crushed between a pair of horses. I know it's mostly steel with leather straps but some of the reference I've seen seems to contradict itself in terms of how much of each material is used. This could of course be down to different patterns of the gaiter. I know there's one on display at the R.A museum in London (I'm in Glasgow) and the clearest example of one is on the R.A memorial at Hyde Park Corner but again, it's hard to decipher what is what.

Any help would be appreciated.

Andy

#2 michaeldr

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 06:51 AM

Here's a blow-up from the RA Memorial if it will help in any way

Posted Image


Good luck
Michael

#3 Andyshep

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 07:23 AM

Hi Michael
Thanks for the excellent enlargement. I spent several hours last night on the web looking for images and descriptions and I think I've got it. The legging gaiter is made of stiff leather and the only metal part is the raised strip that travels from the knee to the ankle.
Just have to make it now!

Andy

#4 michaeldr

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 08:08 AM

Andy,

The enlargement is from one of my own shots: I just happened to pick the right angle for you
Glad to have been of some help here

regards
Michael

#5 Andyshep

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 08:19 AM

Really appreciate it. It's a great shot.

#6 squirrel

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 12:51 PM

Leg iron worn by the number 3 driver, or wheeler (driving the pair nearest the limber), to stop his leg being crushed by the pole on tight turns.

#7 johnreed

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 08:45 PM

Here is a photo of it.

John

Attached Files



#8 Andyshep

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Posted 29 July 2012 - 10:25 PM

John
That's excellent. Thanks very much.

Andy

#9 Andyshep

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Posted 31 July 2012 - 07:59 AM

I contacted the R.A. Museum in London to ask if they had any reference for the leg iron and had a very nice reply from Mr. Paul Evans in the library at Woolwich.
Here's what he sent me:

Posted Image
(Image copyright RAHT)

Posted Image
(Image copyright RAHT)

Posted Image
(Image copyright RAHT)

Posted Image
(Image copyright RAHT)

Thought these would be an interesting addition to the already exhaustive archive of WW1 equipment here.
Many thanks to Paul Evans for his invaluable assistance.

Andy

#10 squirrel

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Posted 31 July 2012 - 06:40 PM

Great photos and thanks for posting them.

#11 Bruce n

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Posted 31 July 2012 - 09:20 PM

I'll attached a Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence tender specification circa 1913 for leggings, Drivers Mark II, which pretty well match the photo's.
Attached File  30.1.jpg   183.26K   3 downloads

#12 Andyshep

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Posted 31 July 2012 - 10:52 PM

That's a great narrative to go with the photos. I don't think we can get more comprehensive than that.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far.

#13 RobL

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Posted 01 August 2012 - 06:41 PM

Stunning - very nice of the RA Museum to go to such effort, many museums wouldn't

#14 Andyshep

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Posted 01 August 2012 - 10:46 PM

I wasn't expecting such a helpful reply mainly due to, as you say, the fact most museums don't bother even to reply. I was first offered the opportunity to view the gaiter but as I'm in Glasgow that wouldn't have been possible, so I was delighted to receive the photos. It certainly made my Monday. Once again a big thankyou to Mr Evans for going out of his way to help me out.