The broad arrow has been used by the "government" for centuries, marking anything from ship masts to prisoners' jumpers.

I found this citation from the Longley Old Hall web site.

"Barrel staves found under plaster some years ago in the kitchen chamber have been identified as beech and pine. The former, with antiquated numbers scratched onto them, may be medieval. One pine stave has a "broad arrow" mark, similar to those found on the Mary Rose and may indicate Crown property."

Source: http://www.longleyoldhall.co.uk/latest_news.htm

The Dukes of Burgundy used the "fire steel" and sparks on their government equipment that was handed out to troops.

On the Goldiproductions Boer War & WWI Bugles,web page they have this bit of info.

"The British Military Broad Arrow

The symbol of the broad arrow, or "mark", has been used to identify crown property since as early as the rule of Richard II (1367-1400)."

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It looks the BA mark was 1st used to mark wine. http://www.invincible1758.co.uk/broad_arrow_page.htm
'THE BROAD ARROW MARK'
The 'Broad Arrow', the Government property mark, originates from 1330, viz:
An illustration of a document dated 1330 issued by Richard de la Pole, the Kings Butler, for the purpose of wine and bearing his seal. This shows that in order to make sure that ownership could be readily established as Kings property, he marked each item with an arrow from his own coat of Arms. The date on this document was 1330! This pre-dated all of the speculative advice given by many historians.

I still have had no luck with any period illustrations of the Broad arrow marks being used to mark 15c arrow bags in any ordinance poof mark role till after late 17th c.

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