Uniform

Oi Jim..You ever bin on the receiving end of a flying beatroot??

recce83 wrote:

Here I am trying to catch up on three months postings. Just a quick note of condolence to you, Shelldrake. I hope time is working to heal the pain.

Hi Recce welcome back but, I think that you might be getting me confused with someone else.

flying beetroot and wet celery , they dont arf urt. ginger

brum wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

You have been AWOL Cartav..A suitable punishment will be awarded by Brum

As it falls to me, then flagellation with wet celery would be suitable in this instance.

(Trouble is the bugger will probably enjoy it !).

If you're going to be nasty with me, I might climb back in my shell......but
wet celery don't sound too bad as long as it's not undress order.

Back to hats & things....... Tried to find that info again, but no success. However, did find a couple of Wikipedia paras. aimed at our Transatlantic allies and which tells how to shrink a beret. First, rip it to pieces to expose the underside of the top, then shave both sides to get rid of the fluffy bits. Then you can wet it & wear it until an acceptable profile is achieved. Sounds dodgy, this bit. I remember having more shrinkage in the leather trim than the woolly top. Could have scalped me if I'd persisted & not stuck the the bloody thing around the bottom of a suitably sized saucepan.

The Mar-ee-ns & GIs aren't averse to destroying issued kit, apparently. I'm reminded that my recruit lot were ordered to out the interior panels of our small packs in order to insert cardboard or ply wood stiffening....... thought it was a wind up until the drill pig showed us a template he had made for the panels. ......How it all comes back ! And who remembers getting rid of scorch marks on BD with a two bob piece or half a crown ? Trouble was silver coinage was in short supply when you only got four bob a day.

Clinging desperately to the "uniform" thread.

Spotted last night - BBC news - a definite cap badge over left ear sighting.

A Sgt in the (I suppose) Light Infantry. His badge was sited where once only Scottish regiment's badges dared to go !

Oh dear !

[quote="brum"]
Clinging desperately to the "uniform" thread.

....... Or very nearly and welcoming some support for my own irritation about where cap badges are displayed now....... On TV again, a mate, an ex-tankie, tells he saw a clip of some infantry lads on a welcome home parade from Afghanistan. Nothing strange in that, but he swears they had "right shouldered arms" in one shot. My mate is Irish & known for occasional confusion but, if anyone knows, do tell if this is something else we've picked up from foreign parts, or maybe it's a foot-sloggers thing that was never inflicted on Gunners. There's a pint at stake!

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

Was that the command or position??They do change arms a lot with the SA80.
The cap badge over the lug is very common with LI regiments.Perhaps the dress code has bin changed for them..

Are you sure that his ear hadn't moved forward, sometimes happens?

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

Was that the command or position??They do change arms a lot with the SA80.
The cap badge over the lug is very common with LI regiments.Perhaps the dress code has bin changed for them..

Thanks Gordon......... Just the position I gather. Cost me a pint that, if I dare
reveal it . It was never the same in my day when we toted Black Bess. Come to think, I don't remember muskets being shouldered anyway, but just held vertically on the march so rain could drip down the barrel.

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

Was that the command or position??They do change arms a lot with the SA80.
The cap badge over the lug is very common with LI regiments.Perhaps the dress code has bin changed for them..

I know they change arms a lot on Trooping the Colour. How come ? That daft little SA80 can't be any heavier than the SLR.

brum wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

Was that the command or position??They do change arms a lot with the SA80.
The cap badge over the lug is very common with LI regiments.Perhaps the dress code has bin changed for them..

I know they change arms a lot on Trooping the Colour. How come ? That daft little SA80 can't be any heavier than the SLR.

Maybe it's not the Weapon................... Just a thought.

....or maybe it just showing off ?
thats for both....berets and rifle drill !!
atb
pinky
HUSSAR

[quote="Shelldrake"][quote="brum"]

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

I know they change arms a lot on Trooping the Colour. How come ? That daft little SA80 can't be any heavier than the SLR.

Strange isn't it ? My Boys Book of Guns gives the SLR a weight of 4.31 kg and the SA80 tips the scales at 4.98 kg. And I'm told the format with the mag at the back makes it butt heavy and less well balanced than the old No.4. (weight 4.12 kg). Maybe it's that sight that adds to the poundage.

And apologies for the "Black Bess" thing. It should have been "Brown Bess" as someone will tell me. A freudian slip........ Black Bess, of course, was used by British soldiery when she plied her trade as a mixed race attraction at the establishment on Braun Strasse in Hannover. And very good too, by all accounts. It is told that two squaddies were climbing the steps to the entrance, one stooped to tie his shoe laces. His mate was in, finished and out, 10 DM lighter before the adjustment to shoes was completed.

[quote="cartav"][quote="Shelldrake"]

brum wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

"right shouldered arms"

I know they change arms a lot on Trooping the Colour. How come ? That daft little SA80 can't be any heavier than the SLR.

It is told that two squaddies were climbing the steps to the entrance, one stooped to tie his shoe laces. His mate was in, finished and out, 10 DM lighter before the adjustment to shoes was completed.

Aye Aye - must have been two Scaleys!!

Certa Cito

[quote="cartav
And apologies for the "Black Bess" thing. It should have been "Brown Bess" as someone will tell me. A freudian slip........ Black Bess, of course, was used by British soldiery when she plied her trade as a mixed race attraction at the establishment on Braun Strasse in Hannover. And very good too, by all accounts. It is told that two squaddies were climbing the steps to the entrance, one stooped to tie his shoe laces. His mate was in, finished and out, 10 DM lighter before the adjustment to shoes was completed.
[/quote]

"Black Bess" thing noted, but didn't want to be petty.

Did I read that right, a bloke going into a House of Ill Repute stopped and bent over ?

That must rank alongside - "Never, while in prison, bend over in the shower to pick up your soap" !

Soap on a rope Brum, soap on a rope.

Much like a ball on chain..

"Black Bess" thing noted, but didn't want to be petty.

Did I read that right, a bloke going into a House of Ill Repute stopped and bent over ?

That must rank alongside - "Never, while in prison, bend over in the shower to pick up your soap" ! [/quote]


Very considerate Brum ! ......... And I love it when you talk dirty !

Reminded of the old RN thing........
"Only the roll of the boat! " ...... "Stap me! I thought it was a roll of linoleum!"

Just seen that bit on the telly about Sandhurst........... Sadly, it seems that the cap badge over ear thing ( well, creeping round that way ) is tolerated there, it has even been adopted by Guards' Brigade SNCOs. Not much chance of having it worn properly then ! Later, footage of the Falklands campaign was screened, with Paras & Jollies unashamedly displaying cap badges to the front, so the current practice must have slipped in around the Millennium.

And talking SNCOs & not relevant here, perhaps, but when a recipient of instruction or a bollocking, I was always narked when the one in charge couldn't string half a dozen words together without slipping in an "OK ?" or an " Alright ? ". I guess we've all done it, and it still irritates. It always sounds as if a "Sir, yes sir !" response is expected or whatever is currently SOP in the British Army after years of watching the GIs & Mareens kick unfriendly backsides.

[quote="cartav"]

And talking SNCOs & not relevant here, perhaps, but when a recipient of instruction or a bollocking, I was always narked when the one in charge couldn't string half a dozen words together without slipping in an "OK ?" or an " Alright ? ".


I always found that people who added that suffix were either, insecure, lacking in confidence or both, cartav. Just an observation.

[quote="Shelldrake"]

cartav wrote:

I always found that people who added that suffix were either, insecure, lacking in confidence or both, cartav. Just an observation.

Guess that's about right, though I don't suppose the PSIs at Sandhurst lack too much in that direction. If you'd got 10p for every time it came up in that programme, there'd be enough for a pint or two. Even some of the upper echelon came out with an "OK" once or twice. Let's be kind & say it's just a habit that should be dropped.

And is that Brum in his clippie kit ? Could do with a haircut & some bull on the Sam
Browne....... Wouldn't have passed muster in Minden Bty.

[quote="cartav"][quote="Shelldrake"]

cartav wrote:

And is that Brum in his clippie kit ? Could do with a haircut & some bull on the Sam
Browne....... Wouldn't have passed muster in Minden Bty.

It could be Webmaster Phil keeping a low profile.

Have located Phil's unit and location but they are on block leave but messages have been passed...
Regards
Steve Int Section

steve wrote:

Have located Phil's unit and location but they are on block leave but messages have been passed...
Regards
Steve Int Section

Well done Steve, let's hope we get a result after your marathon drive. Any chance you could track down one of my old Battery Commanders, just been looking at some of my old CRs and would like to ask him a few questions?