Pack saddle pannier to carry Hotchkiss machine gun ammunition plates

Rectangular, blocked and reinforced pack saddle pannier designed to carry Hotchkiss machine gun ammunition plates. The shallow tray is further reinforced with heavy duty brass rivets which hold the high side pieces and supporting straps in place. Each leather side piece has a heavy steel link at the top to allow the pannier to be hooked on to the pack saddle frame. A central leather strap is attached across the base of the pannier buckles at the top to hold the ammunition plates in place. A single horizontal non-adjustable strap, on the outer side of the pannier only, (facing away from the horse's side) is rivetted into place half way up the side pieces

Hotchkiss machine guns were used extensively by members of the Australian light horse machine gun squadrons in Palestine during the First World War.