Wearing service kit

ChrisP wrote:

Hate to say it but we were issued with BD and 37 pattern webbing in RAMC App Coll in 1970! In fact when I went to my first unit in 1973 I had to buy 58 pattern webbing! It did come to us on issue at the end of 73. I still remember tring to get razor creases on the BD!

Chris, you had to shave the creased and then soap the insides, then hope it didn't rain We also cut button holes in the front of the BD jacket, sowed buttons on the front of the trousers to stop the jacket pulling out of the belt.

Gordon. wrote:

I had No2 dress issued in 62 and a second in 64 when BD was withdrawn.That was 7 Sigs

At Harrogate 59 -61 We had SD and SD caps plus plus 37 pattern webbing.We also had leather belts which had to be whitened.Most of these belts had the end cut off and was used to rub down brass badges.
The runners of Web belts were flattend and buffed in the same manner
Hardboard was very popular for squaring packs and bed blocks
Any ex brat or JL probably had much of the same

Pure Bull sH&T

Yes Gordon, apart from BD instead of SD, still much the same at Harrogate in 1966. Everyone hated those white belts with a passion and were glad to get rid of them for Senior Term.

Weren't allowed to use hardboard for the bedpacks but did use cardboard for inspections of large pack, small pack and ammo pouches.

Edit
Good grief I've suddenly been commissioned. Surely some administrative failure there?

With you all the way on that Gordon!

That's about the time we got the hated No 2 dress too.

I can't remember having the white blancoed "buff" belt inflicted on us in Boys but on achieving our 2nd class education we were allowed to wear a highly-bulled "Belts, lineman". (Kind of them!).

How about polishing the heel and toe plates on your best boots?

brum

I never thought No 2 dress was as smart as BD's myself.

mine you some people can looked smart in a ( sack ) It's realy annoying

Oh yes, I knew a Signals SGT like that, you never saw him when he wasn't smart as a carrot, a techie too of all things.

We were issued the 58 web on enlistment in 61 but still had the 37 web belt minus the buckles on the back to wear with B.D. The 37 web had your corp buckle, my case at the time RC Sigs. I still have the 37 belt. Amazing how it has shrunk over the years and doesn't fit around my waist any more. In the case of B.D. of course we had a super good one for parades, another so, so and then the one worn for work. It was usually worn down smooth from ironing. I remember once removing the front leg pocket on a work B.D. because a hole was in the crease. The out line of the pocket was there because of the unworn fuzz. Leaving the flap on buttoned down. Once had a young know it all Lt. check that flap was buttoned down. He was happy it was buttoned. Didn't notice that the pocket no longer existed. We would normaly wear the 58 web belt on the work B.D. Blancoed green and all the brass painted black. The only time we could appear on the sidewalk with out web belt and head dress was on going to the mess hall and of course on orders parade.

Battle Dress - I remember it from the Commando comics.......

I remember it from the CCF.

Well I certainly remember it ..

Len (Ciphers)

That's a stark contrast to you in Korea.... At least the RSM would have been happy with you there

Ouch!! That pic brought back `orrible memories Len.Box creases and whitened tapes?How did you get away with it?

Oh! I was a blue eyed boy with the Tara, right after that photo I was promoted .. as for whitened tapes and box creases .. REMEMBER we were Royal Signals where BS is a trade.
My buddy who has just passed away, was in the Grenadiers, like his Dad and brother .. he joined as a Drummer Boy at the age of 14½, served 22 years, WWII, retired as WO2. then joined Canadian Army Provost Corps, retired as WO2 .... but always said 'you Signals, I thought the Guards were a BS mob until I saw you guys on parade'.

Len (Ciphers)

Very smart Len, much smarter than No 2 dress in my book.

Now I will tell you a little secret, the photo was taken in 1964 and I was then in the TA, 2 Sqn, 63 Signals Regt (Southampton). As I was ciphers during my regular service, I had to relinquish my old rank and and rejoin as a signalman, retrained as lineman and ended up Troop Sgt acting SQMS.

Len (Ciphers)

Hi Len
In 1964 was a Cadet LCpl in full BDs but with a .303 in the shoulder arms position but no photo to proof it
Cheers
Steve

Just prior to that photo we were issued with SLR's, as I was a Drill Pig I had to learn the new drill fast, so I used to sneak across to the Royal Hampshire Regt (TA) and get some fast instruction to pass on at the next parade. You should have seen the RSM's face when he and an instructor arrived in Southampton from our HQ in Salisbury to give us the new drill, only to find our lads quite at home with it already.

Len (Ciphers)

LOL, I can still do the old .303 drill Len. Not from in service but from the CCF.

Same here Jim. Mind you, I learned .303 drill in Boys.

Learning the drill for SLR was a bit of a pain I remember, 'specially the recover from the Present. (Kept bringing my foot up on the first movement...painful !).

I've got a deactivated .303 and find the drill comes back quite easily, even after all this time.

Hi Brum
You are showing your age...the Boys unit I was in got the SLR in Sep 59...I joined the ACF early 63 and did SLR drill with the .303...despite this was not the best recruit on joining Boys service Sep 64!
Cheers
Steve

Did 303 Drill in the ACF as well as fired 'Home Office' Dartmoor Prison Issued Mk4 .303" for blanks on exersise as we were not permitted our own weapons being so close to the prison. We also got instruction on the original FN SLR...

We later got DP 3.3's & BREN's but they had to be kept in the Prison Armoury, even after the 'Home Office' Mk4's & FN's were withdrawn in 1968. The last English Prison on the UK mainland to have them.

Joined the Army Cadets in 1946, used the old SMLE .303, great drill rifle, great point of balance. Funnily enough we also had the Mk4's a later rifle but no firing pins, they had two white bands around the but and were classified DP Only (drill purpose), plus Bren LMG. On Regular enlistment Mk4 Lee Enfield .303 was standard, with Sten Mk's 1 - 5. Bren was still the LMG of choice, still think it was a great weapon although its accuracy was such that ammunition was wasted, it generally hit what it was aimed at, hence in my day a burst consisted of 3 - 5 rounds.

I may have posted the poem below before, if so I apologize, my 'ode to the Bren LMG'

Len (Ciphers)


The Soldiers Friend


Gathered in a training room, May of fifty-one,
Attempting to grasp the workings of the light machine gun.
The instructor looked exasperated at our lack of ken,
As he sighed, and tried one more time, to impart the workings of the Bren.


There are, he said, five main groups making up the gun,
Now pay attention carefully as through the groups I run.
First there is the barrel, then there is the butt,
Then comes the body - don't forget the locking nut.
Now to remove the piston, you move it fully to the rear,
Twist off the bi-pod, place it carefully over here.


Everybody got it, the instructor asks, with a fiendish grin,
But we were all still struggling - with a body locking pin.
Once you've learned this lot, and got it off by heart,
We will quickly go over another 365 listed working parts.
Magazine holds thirty two - you load only twenty eight,
This here is the gas block - to regulate, rotate.


Leaf backsight for accuracy - graded to a thousand yards,
This here is the trigger - this the trigger guard.
Now we'll strip the trigger - pay attention here,
This item is called the bent - this here, is the seer.
Spring retaining plunger - must be pressed of course,
Some say the gun kicks like a mule, not so, more like a bloody horse.


Your weapon is your best friend, so treat it with respect,
You will learn to handle it with ease, sooner than you expect.
I look down at the monster, stripped and at my feet,
And shudder at the prospect, that an enemy I'd meet,
What with body locking pins, and spring retaining nuts,
I'm of the firm opinion, that I hate its bloody guts.


Len Payne

New one for me Len. Not even in Chris`s book.

He has it in his 'next book list' or so the scallywag tells me ..

Len (Ciphers)

p.s. do you think I dare promote the book here, after all it is for the the British Limbless
Ex-servicemen .. hell I'll take a chance .. see

http://royal-signals.org.uk/main/HEROES.php

Yes Len ..Live dangerously