This exceedingly rare Pattern 1854/55 "Ready Pouch" was actually issued to the famous "Thin Red Line" aka the 93rd Highland Regiment. The pouch made of black harness leather is 6 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 inches high and just under 2 inches deep. The pouch was worn on the waist belt and has two leather belt loops sewn on the reverse. The flap is closed by a buff leather tab or billet that fits over a brass button with a 1/2-inch post for closure. The tin liner is partitioned into two compartments of equal size that hold 10 rounds each of loose cartridges for the Pattern 1853 Enfield/Tower rifled musket. Stamped inside a large oval cartouche on the inside of the flap is the British Government contractor's information which is "HAWKES & Co." over "14 PICCADILLY" over "LONDON". On the reverse of the box are stamped in 3/4-inch-high figures from left to right: "93", " H" over "113" then "55". This means 93rd Regiment, H company (aka the 8th company) soldier 113 and finally date of issue (18)55.A little history on the 93rd at the time this box was in use follows. The regiment was deployed to the Crimean War in 1854 (1854-1856). It fought with distinction at the Alma September 20th, 1854, and became the only infantry unit to win the battle honor ‘Balaklava’ (October 25th, 1854), after holding off repeated Russian cavalry charges. It was for this feat that it gained the nickname ‘The Thin Red Line’, coined by the journalist William Howard Russell. At a crucial moment during the battle, a strong body of Russian cavalry swept towards the British-held port. All that stood between them and the British base were six companies of the 93rd Highland Regiment of Foot under the command of Sir Colin Campbell. Drawn up in ranks two deep- a 'thin red streak' as the journalist William Howard Russell described them- the Highlanders fired two volleys which turned the Russians back. At Balaclava the enlisted men of the regiment were carrying the .72 caliber Minie Rifle, and they strictly wore the over-the-shoulder cartridge boxes, but very soon the Pattern 1853 Tower Enfield rifle-musket began to replace the Minie rifle and with that change the new 1854/55 Ready Pouch appeared. These were issued to the regiments starting in early 1855 by the end of the war in 1856 they, like the Pattern 1853 Tower Enfield were in service. The over-the-shoulder cartridge box remained pre-dominant however while the Ready Pouch was preferred by skirmishers or with the line battalions as a source of extra rounds of ammunition.

After the Crimea, the 93rd regiment was sent to help deal with the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). It won six Victoria Crosses in one day during the storming of the Secundra Bagh in Lucknow in November 1857. The regiment then remained in India on garrison duty until 1870, taking part in the Umbeyla Campaign (1863-64). Shortly after this the muzzle loading Pattern 1853 rifle-muskets were replaced by the breechloading Snider rifles, and the Martini-Henry rifles and the "Ready Pouches" of this pattern were withdrawn from service.

The condition of the cartridge box is outstanding, and its rarity cannot be overstated.  [pe][ph:L]