Four Bees: British Entrenching Tool, WW2, "Implement Entrenching Pattern 1937, Helve Mk I", 1943 "Diamond G" , Patt. 37

I have had a short list of "must add" items that I have been looking for, to add to the shovel and entrenching tool collection. At the top of that list, were the Pattern '37, WW2, entrenching tools.

Well, I scored. Not once, but twice! I located an outstanding deal on two of these unique entrenching tools. One is the earlier tool with the Mk I handle, and the the second has the Mk II handle that is made to mount a spike bayonet, both from WW2.

Today we'll be taking a look at the earlier model, with the "plain handle", the Mk I. We'll take a look at the late model in my next blog post.
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/09/british-entrenching-tool-ww2-implement_21.html

The official nomenclature for this entrenching tool is "Implement, Entrenching, Patt. '37, Helve Mk I". Originally these entrenching tools were issued back in pre-WW1 through the WW1 era, and were called the Pattern 1908 Entrenching Tool. In 1923 these tools were discontinued. In 1939, the British decided they needed an entrenching tool again, and the old, square blade, Linneman style spade was adopted. After a couple of years, the British decided that there was a problem with their "new" style entrenching tools. In 1941, the spade model was discontinued (after a span of only 2 years!). Which brings us to the entrenching tool that we are looking at in this blog post.

In 1941, the British reintroduced the old, Pattern 1908 Entrenching Tool, but gave it a new nomenclature. It was called the "Implement, Entrenching, Patt. '37". The interesting thing is that it was called the Pattern 1937, but was actually adopted in 1941. The first of these WW2 issued tools were issued with a plain style handle, just like the original Pattern 1908 tools. These early wood handles were called the "Helve, Mk I". In 1944 the handle was changed. These second pattern handles were called the "Helve Mk. II". These last styled handles had a metal end cap that would mount a spike bayonet. We'll take a look at one of the entrenching tools with the "Mk. II" handle in the next blog posting.

If you'd like to read more about the British entrenching tools, including the older, Pattern 1939 spades, check out this wonderful website.
http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/1937/1937_entrenching_tools_tools.html

So, after that bit of complicated history, let's take a look at this entrenching tool.

This entrenching tool has a one piece, cast iron head, that slips onto a wooden handle, with a tapered metal end cap. Basically, that's it. The head is held in place with friction, and cannot come off in use due to the tapered end on the handle.

Most of the British soldiers in the field were not very happy with these entrenching tools due to the fact that they really didn't do any one thing well, and did most things "OK" at best. It was actually common practice for one man in each squad to carry a full sized shovel on his pack, and another with a full sized pick. This way the squad could actually dig a proper fortification, or hole, if needed!

The head on this tool has seen some serious weather. the surface is quite pitted from rust, with a nice oiled rust patina. However, the date and makers mark is still clearly visible.

The head is marked "43", with a "G in a diamond" maker's mark. The "43" is for 1943. I have not been able to determine the manufacturer that used the "Diamond D" mark.