| French Army Expedition Canteen Kitchen Service for 6 Men In Rare Complete and Not Used Condition Including Peugeot Coffee Grinder In Original Wooden Trunk 1952 France, 1952. Complete kitchen trunk issued by the French Army for expedition use, comprising place settings and cutlery for six men, cooking pots, roasting pan, a grill, cooking utensils, decanters, a Peugeot coffee grinder and drip filter, drinking cups, and more. Items still in the original brown paper wrapping, many bundled secure with the original straps. Contained in the original trunk made of wood and painted in military green, with metal corner braces and frame, working metal clasps, army inventory number stamped to front, itemized list of contents (in French) mounted to inside of lid including illustration for efficient packing. Trunk measures 75 x 45 x 31 cm (38 x 18 x 12 inches). Some storage wear to trunk, otherwise this set in Very Good condition, a scarce find as this one has been never used.These were used in First Indochina War, as described in a book titled, “Battalion Bigeard” by Erwan Bergot, a French Army officer who served in the war.Seldom are these kits found complete, and in new unused condition, as it is here. The Peugeot coffee grinder, for instance, is most often missing, but is present here. French army officers found the kits to be a puzzle to fit back into the trunk after use, and especially if hurried, it only stands to reason that items would be left behind, and bumped while trying to close up. It has also been said that officers were strictly judged at the time of review, if a kit was not complete. Ultimately not ideal for the needs of the basic units in maneuvers, they fell into disuse, and a revamped kit was finally created in the 1990s.     |