Active Edge

During my time in the British Army and serving in BAOR [1972 to 1988 at differant times] I was issued with 58 Pattern Webbing and Mess Tins went in the two Kidney Pouches at the rear packed with Washing & Shaving Kit and other things.

We had numerous 'Quick Train' or 'Active Edge' or whatever other names the unit mobilisation exercises had, and you had to have your webbing & pack packed for instant callout, which of course meant that almost half your kit could not be used on a day to day basis.

Now this was a Balls Ache as you were only issued with 2 pairs of boots, one of which were to be kept for best (aka Bulled) and one for working, yet you were also told to rotate you boots so that the wore evenly and so that you did not wear the same pair every day.

You had 2 pairs of combats, shirts socks, towels, underwear etc etc etc ALL of which also needed to be kept packed ready for callout.

So what did you do?

Me, I had a duplicute set of kit, a 4 pairs of boots. But not everybody did.

So what about you???

Yes, I agree, I would never, ever use my Best Boots as my backup for Active Edge and other similar. REME were issued with Boots POL as a 3rd pair (shit things, as they would slip on ice and oil), so they were permanently packed.

Getting a backup set of 58 Pattern webbing was impossible, that is unless you had a contact in a RAOC depot!

As a Reme guy my best mate was a G1098 Storeman, so I did not go short for much. I still have some 'crows foot' spanners even today.

Another bit of kit I still have and in daily use is my boot brush kit (stamped with Mil No). Admittently, the black 'putter on brush' wore away. My Brasso brush is now used for brown polish.

I also had a duplicate set of 58 Webbing. Mianly for use as 'Skeleton Order' on the ranges, and of course another belt for day to day wear!

I was posted back to the UK to a unit that still had 37 Webbing, and I think almost all of the ex BAOR lads had thier own webbing, and DPM Combats.

Only RAOC Pet Ops were issued with 'Boots Ankle DMS POL' (Green Soles) and the rest of us only got issued 2 pairs of 'Boots Ankle DMS', but it was a major prioity to obtain at least a 3rd pair.

I had a pair of 'Boots High DMS' which I purchased, and also a pair of 'N.I. Patrol Boots' which were very comfortable to wear. In fact I managed to keep a good pair for years till 'Boots Combat High' came in, and then even after that.

its funny is it not that as the years past your kit seemed to accumalate,from somewhere,its a good job there were no proper 1157 checks,dave.

1157s. How many of you carried 'Pers docs +1157' in an envelope to hand in on changing Units? Not all Units posted them on!
I was a bit too scared to steam the envelope open to change my 1157.

On leaving the Army I never returned my ID Card, nor my 20 MFO boxes which came in very handy.

I was not a SQMS but failed to see nowadays how they kept track of stuff. I remember signing a 1033 for boxes, so I presume it was forwarded on to my next Unit.

My dread with 1157s was, eg. being told to hand kit in for new issue, but no one was stood there with my 1157 to mark it off, then being asked for the item later on in life!

When I retired from the Regulars as a WO1 in 1993 I transferred into the TA and was given my 1157 to hand in at CVHQ saying I had 'retained' my kit. I noticed that I had far more kit than the 1157 said I had, and that loads had been written off !

Fast forward to Grantham, and a new 1157 was awaiting me to 'Draw Kit' from the QM's - I informed the RQMS that I had 'retained kit' to which the reply was 'Oh no you have not, do you want me to cock my books up'

I have talked to ex regulars over the years who were issued 'retained kit' to keep as a reserve (not TA] and some say it is still in the Attic to this day! (Good job we did not keep our own personal weapons is all I will say)

On leaving the TA in the late 90's for a QM's post in the ACF on a Type B Commision I again had my 1157 ripped up! Plus I got a uniform allowance!

I too have a kit bag+ full of stuff in my attic. Most of it retained when I left and entered the "Reserve". Some of the items are a puzzle to this day - a pair of gym shoes (white) but no PT kit - and a No.2 Dress Tie are two examples !!

The combat boots long since were used for gardening, the NI boots fell to bits while in a cupboard; but the combats are still there for a possible "Dads Army" Mk2 - though they'd never fit me.

Ready and able to guard a strategically sited post box near you..............!

I came out in 1988 after 22yrs w and have still got my Call-up Booklet with notes to report to Bassingbourne Barracks, near Royston. ID card and dog tags are included.

There are differences, of course, between how the British Army did things and how the Canadians did things, but this thread reminded me of 'stuff' my dad had squirrelled away...and amongst those items were a pair of white gym shoes. I don't ever recall him ever wearing them and he certainly never partook in PT! As I recall, when I as a teenager was required by my school to have PT kit (school t-shirt, shorts, jockstrap, gym shoes...the shorts I still have and can, with some effort, still get into), dad passed the gym shoes on to me. Of course this would have been circa 1969. We were in Ottawa and I was attending a civilian Jr. High School -- and having problems fitting in as it was -- so attending gym class in my dad's "army sneakers", which I thought were okay, was the antipathy of "cool." Everybody else wore whatever was "in" back then....Nike or Puma or Adidas.

By the time we got over to Germany, and I was attending a civilian-based Sr. High School operated by the DND, we all seemed to be wearing our Dad's white army-issue gym shoes and they were suddenly "cool". I wouldn't mind latching on to a pair now as I suspect they would be totally retro!!

As an adult I often, although not in recent years, scoured Army surplus stores for interesting attire, such as combat boots. Dirt cheap, relatively speaking, hardy, and tough looking. Comfortable too. I even managed to latch on to a pair of parade boots that looked great when polilshed up to a high sheen and which were my 'dress boots.' Thing is, they nearly killed my feet.

I wore them to a conference I attended at McGill in Montreal back in 2003 and they looked great. However, I was billeted in one of the university dorms which was at the top of Mount Royal and twice a day I had to wend my way down the mountain, like Moses returning to the Israelites, to attend the conference. While not a "mountain" by any means (more of a very large hill), by the end of the 3 or 4 days I was in Montreal, those boots were very tight, very uncomfortable, and painful!!! I haven't worn them since. My toes, I swear, curl up in horror if I come within 2 feet of those boots!! Coming off the plane in Calgary, I literally hobbled to the baggage area, whimpering with each step LOL...and I do NOT whimper easily (bitch, yes, complain, oh yeah...whimper, never).

I also remember my dad keeping an extra set of dogtags, the chain encased in some sort of plastic (yellow with age), in his dresser drawer. I don't recall him wearing a set of dogtags much, except perhaps when he went out on scheme.

What I do remember, distinctly, of Dad's kit was the smell. Not unpleasant but distinctive. I was never able to figure out what created it, although I suspect it had something to do with the waterproofing on some of the items. To me, it smelled somewhat like spinach.

Not being asked to return kit rings a bell...my dad had stuff still kicking around after he retired. Of course, being a Supply Tech, I'm guessing he was able to somehow retain some of it but, yes, almost everyone had bits and pieces of their kit with them for years and years, supposed to be turned in for new but never was or if new was issued, the old was never exchanged. Lord knows what the DND inventory sheets were like....a total mess, no doubt. Our tax dollars at work LOL

How much has 'YOUR' figure changed since signing up?

Ok, I was a 15yr old 5' 3" slip of a lad with 26" waist....Now at 61, I am 5' 10" and 13 Stone and a 37" Waist.

I often 'think' I could pass the current version of a BFT in training shoes for a 40yr old!

Does anyone know what the timings requirements are for the current equivalent of the test for non infantry pers?

Funny how the old mind plays tricks with age!

i was 5 3"when i joined up at 16,i am now 59 still 5 3" but i do long for a 37" waist again,dave.

Dog tags with the chain in plastic tubing. Off to the MIR and scrounge said tubing from the medics. I see no one mentioned putties. I was recently looking at a photo of my bed in the barracks. There were my putties neatly rolled up and in my boots with wieghts. All my kit was either returned, the extra bits have been recently sent onto the RC Sigs Museum in Kingson Ontario. I have one green beret, one UN beret, one set of dress greens, two sets of dog tags (old regtimental number/Social Security number on the the new ones) and my pension once a month. When I say I sent all my bits and peices off to the museum this included my Unit Evaluation Report (UER) which went ahead of me on all postings.

right, Hardrations...it *was* medical tubing!!! How clever of you to remember that!

I remember my dad wearing putties as well and winding them around and around his ankles and shins in the morning. He often got Mom to do it -- not because he was such a dominant person and she so submissive (let's not even go there!! Gawd, that's going to send me screaming into therapy!!), but because it was easier to get the putties to go on smoothly and not at a slant. I recall the weights, too.

In the 1970's it was elastic bands with Denim or Lightweight Trousers or Combat Trousers. Weights were for Battledress which I never wore.

Hmmm...I don't recall the elastic bands but, yes, it was battledress my dad wore putties with and the weights.

Before the Canadian Army, courtesy of Dept. of National Defence (DND), was integrated with the other branches, I remember dad wearing a variety of uniforms, depending on what he was doing.

Everyday uniform -- what he wore "to the office" -- consisted of tan jacket with belt, a khaki shirt, olive green knit tie (straight edge with a small fringe on the end, not much), trousers, web belt, boots, heavy socks and, of course, his RCOC cap. He also wore a version of this when called out on to parade.

Battledress (or was the above the same? I forget now all these years later. Civilianism has affected my memory!! Aaarrghh....!!)

And, of course, his Blues...serge, as I recall, with a cadet collar with a white insert just showing above the collar, done up tight against the throat, long jacket, blue trousers with red stripe down the sides, white gloves, belt (?), dress boots. Very smart looking.

Post-integration, the men's day-to-day uniform was this unsightly looking baggy outfit, camouflage, drawstring on the bottom of the trousers. Yech.

Sr. NCO's wore a dark green uniform, jacket, shirt, tie, trousers, that was disparaged as looking like a bus driver's uniform, which it did.

LoL it was a British Thing I am sure.

You lot are creative, I must say :-)

speaking of creative uses for non-regulation materials...and acknowleding this is a family site LOL...did any of you ever stretch condoms over the muzzle of your rifles when out on scheme to keep the rain out?

Our boys were issued a 3-pack of these like some kids get candy (sweets)...far more than any guy could possibly use, no matter what he says LOL. They came in plain white boxes, about 2" by 2" with 3 powdered condoms rolled up inside. Rather heavy latex, as I recall, certainly not the ultra-thins one could get out of German vending machines! (which tore quite often...)

Stephen Lock wrote:

.....Rather heavy latex, as I recall, certainly not the ultra-thins one could get out of German vending machines! (which tore quite often...)

Hmmm

And how would you know that Stephen

Paul.

Na, we just cleaned them on a regular bases so rust never set in.

I do confess to putting a 9mm Browning Ammuntion Clip in one in Northern Ireland however.

We had proper fitted muzzle covers for AMF(L) in Norway and believe it or not the were not to keep the damp out, but to stop a plug of hard snow forming if you dropped your rifle in a draft.

On scheme it was not uncommon to see an SLR slung upside down in heavy ran however.

Talking about elastics at the bottom of trousers and Anklets or Putties. An old sweat once told me that the springs from the 3" Mortar used to keep the supplementary carts in place made good 'elastics' I tried it and it almost cut off the circulation to me feet! till he told me you needed to stretch them a little LoL

Way back in '65 in Munster with the Hampshires we often were called out on a Quick Train.
One of the guys in our block was an almost time served Private employed a a permanent Dining Room Orderly,he cleaned the cookhouse in other words and did no soldiering.
Around 0200 one morning our new 2nd LT. came running round the block shouting QUICK TRAIN QUICK TRAIN,and had the nerve to waken our man with,COME ON SMITH QUICK TRAIN,to which he replied,Feck off,the only train I'm catching is the Blighty brsterd.
No more problems with the 2ND LT. after the situation was explained to him.

Still had 22 year served Privates in the early 70's but they were starting to be a thing of the past, as were ex National Servicemen who had signed up as regulars.

In fact when I was posted to Bracht in 1972 it was the first time I came across civilian cleaners, not just in the cookhouse, but in the block as well!

Paul wrote:

Stephen Lock wrote:

.....Rather heavy latex, as I recall, certainly not the ultra-thins one could get out of German vending machines! (which tore quite often...)

Hmmm

And how would you know that Stephen

Paul.

Not saying okay, okay if you absolutely insist like that....being 17 year old boys, getting action or not, we felt it important to at least have some 'evidence' we were getting action even if we weren't. We certainly weren't about to ask our dads for any!!!

I may not have used them....uhm....with anyone (sigh) but I did mess around with them now and then, if you catch my drift, and even in such a relatively innocent manner found they didn't hold up too well.

Subsequent to that era, as an adult I found ultra-thins to not be that great as far as durability and that was a decade or more after the fact when technology supposedly produced improved choices LOL

Re "Quick Trains"....we used to call them Bug-Outs (or as they were less than affectionately known Bugger offs).

When a bug-out was to occur there was a whole system in place to ensure even the guys out in the villages and towns away from camp and the Married Quarters got called out. Of course, nobody had telephones back then and so the system involved some poor guy racing around the German countryside, I assume with some sort of map or listing so he knew where various Canadian families were living, pounding on doors or ringing the hell out of buzzers at some ungodly hour of the morning to rouse the troops. Beats me how anyone managed to get into camp in any sort of reasonable time, but they did.