Bandolier, William Sykes Ltd, Horbury, 1916

Bandolier, William Sykes Ltd, Horbury, 1916

Collected in 2020

Leather bandolier, brown leather belt with 5 leather pouches attached

A bandolier is an ammunition belt. Soldiers in the First World War wore it over the shoulder and across the chest to carry extra bullets. This example has five rifle bullet pouches.

Leather bandolier on a mannequin showing how it would have been worn over the shoulder and across the chest

It was made by William Sykes Ltd in Horbury at the Yorkshire Athletic Manufactory. Before the First World War, Sykes was becoming one of the largest sports manufacturers in the world. The Horbury factory made a huge variety of equipment, from cricket bats and tennis rackets to footballs and boxing gloves.

When war broke out, the company turned its wood and leather working expertise to supporting the war effort. As well as supplying leather items, the company also made wooden rifle parts.

Sykes had previous experience of supplying the military. They had also fulfilled War Office orders during the Boer War (1899-1902). They made equipment like medicine balls for soldiers' basic training as well as items for use on the front line.

During the First World War, Sykes also continued to make a reduced range of sports products. Their wartime standard footballs used an efficient design that needed less material and were quicker to make.

Related images

Back of a leather bandolier, brown leather belt with metal buckle, 5 leather pouches are attached to the front

Small brown leather pocket with metal button fastening

Bullet pouch made by William Sykes Ltd

Back of bullet pouch with inscription, 'Wm Sykes Ltd 1915'

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