Atlas Antiques

For sale is a Early Post WW2,1953 dated British Army Royal Army Service Corps Ration Crate for Rolled Oats. The crate is in poor condition, really needs some tummy loving care, several splits in wood please see photos. 

The case was also to be marked with the description and the nett weight of the contents, the initials of the contractor, the month and year of packing, the month and year of the expiry of the warranty period, all this to be in one-inch-high characters in good oil paint or stencil ink, in the middle of one side. They were also to be marked in 1 ¼-in characters in light royal blue ‘RASC SUPS’ (Royal Army Service Corps- Supplies) horizontally and centrally about one inch from the upper edge on both the top and bottom and on each end. There should be no other markings except, if desired, identity marks such as batch or case numbers, these to be smaller characters.

Crate is marked on the side: ROLLED OATS 2x20 LB.TINS S.C.W.S. LTD C/7326 W:CI YEAR) E. 1-53

On the other side: RASC in blue ink. All markings are clear!

While many items of military equipment survive, it is those items that were most common, but disposable, that are often hardest to find- tooth brushes and period (clean) toilet paper, ration packs etc. are all scarce. Added to that are the simple wooden crates used to transport supplies. Ammu boxes survive in large numbers because they were useful in workshops as tool boxes, wooden crates are much less common, with most being burnt for heat at the time. Tonight we are looking at one of these rarer survivors, a crate originally used by the army for rolled oats. 

Please note this is in poor condition, this will be sent via 1st class signed for within 2-3 working days or pick up from southampton.