Check the listing for details. SCARCE ORIGINAL 1918 WW1 BRITISH MOUNTED TROOPS MESS TIN. Condition: Used. Listed at 200.00 USD. SCARCE ORIGINAL 1918 WW1 BRITISH MOUNTED TROOPS MESS TIN For sale is another excellent example of this surprisingly scarce piece of WW1 British equipment. Officially titled "Mess Tins, Round, Cavalry Pattern" these were usually issued to any soldier who was in a mounted role and included Royal Horse Artillery, some members of the Army Service Corps among others. The design dates from the 19th century when the round tin would fit inside of the end of the valise carried at the back of the saddle. With the disappearance of the valise the shape was kept as it was easier to mount to the saddle by WW1 being strapped around the rifle bucket. This example is of tinned steel and has the metal loops on either side of the top and bottom to secure the leather strap used to hold it closed and attached to the saddle. There is a wire handle which folds inside the tin when closed and 2 slots in the lid which allow it to be closed with the handle extended. This example is crisply dated 1918 and marked "Hart & Sons". There is also a small inspectors stamp in the form of a broad arrow next to the number 65 on the bottom, and another below the double struck number 15 on the lid. The tinned finish is still bright inside the mess tin but with signs of use and wear, but has worn to a patina on the outside. This design was used by the mounted troops of all the commonwealth forces during and after the war. Following WWI, a revised version was made in the 1930s which moved the folding handle to the outside of the tin like the rectangular mess tins and did away with the two slots for the handle, no doubt for hygiene reasons. This is a good solid example, perfect to complete a collection of WWI items or for specific gear to mounted troops.Please check my other auctions for items of interest. Listing a new lot of WW1 and WW2 military items and other things over the next few days. Thanks for looking and good luck!