""Chest Wallets’ Worn by WW1 Turkish Soldiers" Topic

"A picture of a WW1 Turkish soldier (who is holding a pre-war ball grenade), with small shallow (thin) rectangular ‘chest wallet', which also appears to have a metal button at the top end (which is the same size as his jacket buttons). As well, compared to the ammunition pouch, is approximately the same length and width as the individual pouch-pockets. Another soldier, is also pictured below with an identical ‘chest wallet', which shows more of the surface detail, which appears to have some items stuffed into it as these are silhouetted on the surface.

Typically, the hamayil carried by Ottoman men was in a small silver box and hung on their chest with talismanic prayers put in them, with the hope of getting help for avoiding bullets in fights. In this case, these could be common version made from cloth and leather for soldiers in the front lines in wartime as silver was band from use as an economic measure during the war by the Ottoman empire.

However, as can be seen from this 1890-1900 photograph of the cavalrymen of the First Regiment of Lancers, and the Ertuđrul Cavalry Regiment of the Imperial Guard, all are wearing a long leather chest wallet, indicating this was a common practice in the Ottoman Imperial Army…"

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Full article here.
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Hope you enjoy!.

Amicalement
Armand

Thanks very much, this is a great site and will be very useful as I paint figs for the Arab Revolt!
-Steve

A votre service mon ami! (smile).

Amicalement
Armand