Campaign Canteen Cooking Set

A galvanized metal portable Bucket Canteen set.

Packed within the bucket is a frying pan with folding handle, a steamer and toasting grate with sliding handle to fit the boiling pot. The pot sits below the pan, has a lid and contains a kettle with interior lid hook to hang the tea strainer which has a swing handle. Also packed alongside the kettle are 2 crescent shaped storage canisters each containing either a salt or pepper pot. The set also has a fire stand, which looks to be unused, and sits upside down in the bucket with the boiling pot within it. The canteen has a pair of enamel dishes and cups and saucers. The cutlery consists of a pair of knives (marked Encore - Thomas Turner & Comp.y Suffolk Works Sheffield) and forks with horn handles and a pair of table and tea spoons. The bucket has a leather belt strap to secure the lid. It was suggested that the lid could be used as a wash-hand basin.

The canteen has a red label named M.E.M. Sandys and hand written T.M.S. Military Canteen. The Sandys were a military family and it is likely that M.E.M. Sandys was not the original purchaser of the canteen as he became a 2nd Lieutenant from university in 1936. Canteens were an essential piece of campaign equipment but not many seem to come on the market. Circa 1900.