This is an example of a 2WW Officers’ field trunk mess set. The olive drab trunk was made by Wheary Incorporated, JQ.M. (Jeffersonville Quartermaster) Depot, 2 Mar 1942, as shown on the brass tag on the lid. The trunk measures 18” long by 13 ½ inches wide by 14 inches high. The trunk interior contains wood compartments for cutlery, dishes and condiments.
JQ.M. Depot was a military warehouse located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Items in the museum trunk are:
Large plate platter 1
Cups 5
Plate large 7
Plate mid-size 7
Oval bowls 2
Forks 5
Spoon 3
Knives 10
Salt and pepper shaker 3
Can opener 1
The photos show an empty trunk with compartments, the brass tag, and items in the trunk as seen in the CSS Museum. This officers’ kit may have been used during the Korean War, as some plates and cutlery have a 1951 stamp. The names on some items are from Canada, U.S., and Japan.