This bag is one of a limited edition of 50 made as part of the ‘carried with us’ project; a collaboration between Home Front Vintage and artisan leather worker Nat Thakur.

Each bag is lined with an original silk escape map from the Cold War.

Escape maps were the creation of Clayton Hutton, an eccentric MI9 British Army Officer during WW2. Hutton had maps printed onto silk as it doesn’t degrade in water and also doesnt rustle like paper. The maps were issued to the military throughout WW2 and beyond; with troops hiding maps inside the lining of their uniform or hollowing out the heel of their boot and hiding the map there. If they were captured or shot down, they then had a map so they could try and escape and find their way home. All the escape and evade items in the collection are made from genuine issue, rescued maps from the Cold War.

The project aims to share some of the stories we carry with us about people who lived through the 1940s and 1950s and who shaped who we are today.

Many of the bags in the collection are named after someone special and tell their story in the words of those who knew them. 

This bag is named after Henry Qualtrough. Henry was part of the Royal Engineers and landed on Gold Beach on D-Day where he cleared mines in the path of the Allied Forces.

Each bag comes with a print out of Henry's story and information on the history of the escape maps.

Handmade from quality Italian vegetable tanned leather. Lined with a genuine military silk escape map from the 1950's.

This bag is made to order and may take up to 4 days to arrive.

More information about the project

Please note this bag will be lined with either a map of Turkey, Iran or Russia as we have limited availability now.

Internal zip pocket and adjustable shoulder strap.

Choose between a sanbrowne closure or a buckle closure.

Dimensions:

Length: 28cm

Width: 24cm

Depth: 6cm