Container of vital personal possessions (5)
I believe the answer is:
chest
'container' is the definition.
(chest is a kind of container)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chest that I've seen before include "ark" , "Treasure box?" , "Coffer; trunk" , "Strong box; thorax" , "Trunk or crate" .)