These Pictures Show Exactly How British Soldiers' Kit Has Changed Over The Last 1,000 Years

    While almost every item has changed, a few have remained the same across centuries.

    Luke Bailey
    by Luke Bailey

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    Thom Atkinson's photo project looks at the equipment carried by the common soldier over the last 1,000 years, tracing its development from the Battle of Hastings to modern-day Afghanistan.

    1. Huscarl, Battle of Hastings, 1066

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    Soldiers in 1066 carried a variety of weapons for different purposes, but also had keepsakes such as dice and, most interestingly, a spoon. Every British soldier's kit featured in Atkinson's project includes a spoon.

    2. Mounted knight, Siege of Jerusalem, 1244

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    In the Crusades, kit included rosary beads and a wider selection of protection.

    3. Fighting archer, Battle of Agincourt, 1415

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    One British tactic that came to the fore at Agincourt was the planting of wooden stakes to defend against cavalry, hence these wooden stakes.

    4. Yorkist man-at-arms, Battle of Bosworth, 1485

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    5. Trained band caliverman, Tilbury, 1588

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    The advent of guns meant more distant fighting and a reduction in the amount of armour.

    6. Private sentinel, Battle of Malplaquet, 1709

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    7. Private soldier, Battle of Waterloo, 1815

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    As campaigns grew in length, and weapons became more complex, the amount of kit grew.

    8. Private soldier, Battle of the Somme, 1916

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    The original project was inspired by the returning of Captain Charles Sorley's WWI kit bag, containing his possessions. The survey of kits explores the combination of soldiers' gear further.

    9. Lance corporal, parachute brigade, Battle of Arnhem, 1944

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    10. Close-support sapper, Helmand Province, 2014

    Thom Atkinson / Via thomatkinson.com

    The number of items has become much higher as technological improvements allow for lighter gear.

    But there's still a spoon.