WW2 Canteen Services Military Watch c.1942

A good WW2 military Leonidas wristwatch supplied to the British Army in India via the Canteen Services, c.1942.

Although it was accepted that the C.S.(I) stamp appeared on timepieces belonging to the Civil Service in India, ongoing research has revealed that these have more of a connection with the military than was previously known. The C.S.(I) mark was used by a government-authorised private group of retailers calling themselves "Canteen Services (India)", which was formed as a cooperative in 1942, partly to provide some modest but essential goods for the troops, due to the absence of the NAAFI in India. The Canteen Services operated throughout WW2 and remained a going concern until India's independence in 1948. Today, the Indian Army operates a spin-off supermarket on their military bases but they are known as the "Canteen Stores Depot".

Wartime Canteen Services, while acting as a supplier of daily "luxury goods", was able to procure difficult-to-obtain Swiss watches, which were imported through the West End Watch Co., and sold to troops at budget prices. Making only small profits to fund their existence, the C.S. perhaps not surprisingly sourced watches of a pattern suitable for both military and civil service work, however, to prevent them from being sold on the black market or at the end of the war by profiteers, a "C.S.(I)" mark was struck on the case back. The jewellery and watch trade was therefore able to indicate that these otherwise perfect watches were something of a "Grey Goods" product.

What is interesting to note is that Canteen Services (India), attracted a good deal of business and their watches were hugely popular acquisitions, so much so that at least in one internet anecdote, the C.S.(I) is reported to have offered 3 of their watches to the 44th Indian Airborne Division but only sold them to the soldiers after production of a winning lottery ticket!

The example being offered here is in collector-grade working condition but awaiting a final service to keep it in full working order. It comes on a perfect, period military leather protective strap. The price includes the watch service.

Code: 51535