Takes me back

Is there a smell. or sight that immediately takes you back to your forces days?

For me it was the smell of the clothing stores. Sad I know but if I could bottle it I would. Diesel on a cold winters morning always brings back memories as well.

When i see Tiger beer on a supermarket shelf,i`m right back in Singapore

Teabag wrote:

Is there a smell. or sight that immediately takes you back to your forces days?

For me it was the smell of the clothing stores. Sad I know but if I could bottle it I would. Diesel on a cold winters morning always brings back memories as well.

With you on the diesel.

Brasso/Duraglit is another.

What bought it all back for me was at a transport festival, standing behind a 1 ton armoured. The engine was running, the two-speed genny was whistling and the exhaust was giving off the peculiar smell that only came from that vehicle.

I was back in Belfast, '72.

Went to a reunion at Blandford last year - yes, it was that bacon they used to dish up that I could smell from the hot plate. I was back on exercise in some German forrest on exercise again.

Jimsigs1

I remember the smell of my Dad's gear, especially his Army-issue sleeping bag....I suppose it was the smell of the water-proofing but it had what I can only describe as a "spinach-y" odor to it, fairly prevalent at that.

Boot polish

Brasso

Aqua Velva after shave (pure Dad)

Stephen, don't forget the old poncho smell.

Jimsigs1

the oil in a 432 steering box, there is no civvie equivelent i dont think, but it was a unique smell. The sound of any military band will have me swinging my arms, head up sholders back. I found myself swaggering along the sidewalk here the other day as the Fiji police band marched past.

The smell of a wet BD drying out...Not very pleasant

The smell of the uniforms being altered etc in the oldcamp tailors shop - don't get that smell from any other clothing store etc.

Jimsigs1

Smell of 'wet brown paper' when pressing BD every night ... although there was nothing like the aroma in the ATS billet when giving them an early call at 5.30am.

Len (Ciphers)

That reminds me of one of my telephony instructers who went by the name of "Sid James"
He said when you enter a switchboard room you were hit by the smell of the six Ps.
Perfume,powder and paint,prespiration,periods and p*ss.

Some years ago I went to the, now sadly closed, Museum of Military Transport in Beverley. As soon as you walked in the main door there was that distinct smell of Military Garages. It's a smell that I have never experienced anywhere in Civvy Street.

Every time i use Hypoy 90 axle oil on my Land Rover, or at work on my truck, it takes me back to useing OEP 220 oil on Saracens, and various AEC vehicles.

Camp coffee out of the bottle as dished out by the Sally Army at Harrogate and with condensed milk. Had some the other day when visiting a friend it brought back memories.

Jimsigs1

The smell of us guys getting ready to go out on a Saturday night Brut, Brut, and more brut with the odd wiff of old spice, we took it to the max when Henry Copper said "splash it all over" when you think about it there was not much on offer in the way of aftershave back then . of on a tangent you could always spot a squaddie we all had razor sharp creases in our jeans a big fashion no no now but we all thought we looked the dogs b****** back then

jimsigs1 wrote:

Stephen, don't forget the old poncho smell.

Jimsigs1

Yes....same smell as the sleeping bag, actually.....

mjm34 wrote:

Some years ago I went to the, now sadly closed, Museum of Military Transport in Beverley. As soon as you walked in the main door there was that distinct smell of Military Garages. It's a smell that I have never experienced anywhere in Civvy Street.

Yes!!! I recall periodically having occasion to visit my dad at work and ambling off with him down to the motor pool (he was a Supply Tech) and absolutely there was a distinct smell...oil, wax, gas, and such. One just doesn't find it in civvie garages, although similar. Dad's office area too.....dust, for sure. Does anyone ever remember the smell of fresh Gestener paper? Picture a roomful of 6 or 7 year olds all sniffing their purple-blue print outs the teacher just rolled off the Gestener machine, the ink still fresh. Dad had one in his office (the latest technology....nothing too good for those Ordance Corp guys, y'know!!) and the aroma of the ink permeated the office.

Just reminded me Stephen. That awful yellow gunge you used to polish the floors with.

I took a distinct dislike to that stuff from the first time i used at at Harrogate

Even worse was removing the stuff when it got 'grotty!' Abit of wire wool and Parafin to clean it...

Teabag wrote:

Just reminded me Stephen. That awful yellow gunge you used to polish the floors with.

. . . and the great, clumsy "bumper" you had to use, to polish it up !

Quote :

Teabag wrote:
Just reminded me Stephen. That awful yellow gunge you used to polish the floors with.


. . . and the great, clumsy "bumper" you had to use, to polish it up !

...with another one on top to give it more weight.Or on some occasions another squaddie..(on top)

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Teabag wrote:
Just reminded me Stephen. That awful yellow gunge you used to polish the floors with.


. . . and the great, clumsy "bumper" you had to use, to polish it up !

...with another one on top to give it more weight.Or on some occasions another squaddie..(on top)

WHAAAT ? !

Of the bumper Brum.the bumper

The Smell of XG 279 grease bloody orrible... and the sight of it all over an Armoured Engineers covies as it did get absolutely everywhere...