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Airtight "ammo" box for identification - WW2 British

P

Packhow75

Member
Can anyone Id this box - It's steel with an "Airtight" lid.

I am assuming it is for ammunition and assuming from the handles that it's designed to drop into another box - probably wooden.

The identifying marks are in 3 corners "III", "1942" and "E.C & Co Ltd"

The cross shaped latch is depressed and rotated to unlock and remove the lid - the lid fits into a rubberised recess.

Box is approx 11in Long x 6.5in Wide x 6.5in High

Lid is approx 6in x 5in

AmmoBox1942.jpg

On another forum someone has suggested "Airtight container for Gun Cotton" - but no other details.

If this identification is correct, my questions, then are used by whom, where and when - does this fit into another box - if so what?

Cheers

Tim
 
Im sure Ive seen these before described as for Guncotton ,seem to remember guncotton had a variety of explosive uses one of which was for demolition charges,ive read somewherethe central screw could also be removed and a detonator inserted .
 
It is a GC container & , possibly , other explosives . I have seen them in different sizes & they were often included in air drop containers . They were also widely used by the RE's for demolition purposes both during & after WW2 . Hope this helps .
 
ah found it ,,in "weapons of the world war two tommy"
following is a bit about guncotton used in demolitions....
"Guncotton was issued in wet slab form,Fourteen slabs were packaged in an airtight tin which was housed in wooden crate number W.56 which was 13.5 inches by 8 3/8 inches .Each slab weighed 1 pound and measure 6 inches by 3 inches by 1.5inches.A formed hole in the centre of each slab was to accomodate a primer which was required to initiate high velocity detonation.If guncotton is allowed to dry out it becomes unstable and can be detonated by striking it hard.If dry and warm it becomes sensitive to friction as well"

attached image showing an example of one of the airtight guncotton tins is from the book by David B Gordon (Horsa on BOCN)
 

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I'm sure Spotter's answer is correct. Please note that this type of closure for an ammo package was also used for AFV (armoured car and tank) ammo and if I remember correctly, for the 120 mm BAT family of ammo into the 1960s and 1970s. A bit laborious to unfasten the lid but the contents were free of atmospheric and moisture fluctuations and ingress of dust and sand.
 
I dug up part of one of these up the other day while metal detecting. Only the lid part. I also found, around the same area, some parts which may go with this or something similar. I think they are dividers for a can of some sort. They are dated 1942 and some have EC&CO LTD stamped on them. I shall post some pictures when I can.
 
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