Stable belts

They came after i left,but i remember seeing them in pics,I think the trend was started by UN forces.

I think you're right Gordon, there was always something to separate us from our Beer Tokens!

Shelldrake wrote:

Another scam, practised in the Gunners, was the "Battery Scarf". This was a cravat produced in the "Bty Colours" worn on Exercise with Combat Kit and in Barracks when wearing Coveralls. They were normally run up by the BSM/BQMSs' wife who took a percentage of the takings for their input.

Ah yes, the stupid battery scarf ! About as much use as a chocolate teapot
We can place the origin of those firmly on the doorstep of the Yanks.
When we got to Cyprus we were given a blue one as part of our UNFICYP regalia. QOH being QOH they went staight to the bottom of our kitbags !

Wilf wrote:

bigmal wrote:

Talking of Stable Belts, i`ve still got mine.

And it still fits.



Well, one leg.

Still got mine, fits much the same as yours.

Actually, I think it must have shrunk! they do shrink you know, oh yes they do...

Can`t think of another reason for it not to fit.
Typical military quality stuff, shrinks at the first touch of water.

To the best of my recollection the 'battery scarves' were a product of Korea, apart from the winter freezing hell we also had to face the summer heat and dust, we were issued at the time an open weave camo scarf which we used to wrap around our faces to keep the dust out. Our Yankee cousins MP's used to have a white cravat as part of their uniform, you could buy them in the PX. Britcom Z Signal Sqn quickly fastened on to the idea that the MP scarf would be better than the rough camo scarf, so we started wearing them. Dress code was very lax in Korea and almost anything got by. It didn't take the local entrepreneurs (Gook's) long to catch on and they started producing UN Blue ones with unit logo's on. I had never seen them in use before Korea or after until about the mid 60's. Could be wrong ... I thought they looked smart and sure livened up our otherwise drab uniforms.

Len (Ciphers)

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... I thought they looked smart and sure livened up our otherwise drab uniforms.

Spoken by a true Scaley.

I have an RAOC Cravat, don't think I've ever worn it, and don't even remember wearing it. Did you have SQN/Troop pullovers? we had very nice mulberry coulered ones at 20 Bde, again you had to buy them though.

i have a faint recollection of a dark blue pully..Think it was when i was at the School of Signals

jim wrote:

I have an RAOC Cravat, don't think I've ever worn it, and don't even remember wearing it. Did you have SQN/Troop pullovers? we had very nice mulberry coulered ones at 20 Bde, again you had to buy them though.

Officers at 20 Bde had the mulberry (?) pullovers while we plebs just had the normal green ones. That's another thing, name tags. 21st Signal Regt made you have them but I was told "get that off" at 20 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn.

2 Sqn 21st Signal Regt had blue cravats with a red hand logo supplied for cash by the SSM. Red hand of Ulster but still not sure why?

Gordon. wrote:

i have a faint recollection of a dark blue pully..Think it was when i was at the School of Signals

Come to think of it, Offrs & WOs wore blue wooly pullys as part of barrack dress in our regt.

Not sure if it was RA - wide, (sheldrake ?).

It was Brum, on promotion to WO2 we had to purchase a Brown Hat & Chin Strap, Brown Leather Gloves, a Silk Tie, a Blue Pullover, Brown Silver Stud Shoes, No 1 Dress Badge of Rank (for the pullover) and large RA Shoulder Titles. Any money made on promotion was swallowed up on that lot for around three months. At least we looked the part!

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At least we looked the part!

Is that a spelling error Shelldrake????/Should it read "prat"?

How very dare you! We had a Script for every rank.

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Red hand of Ulster but still not sure why?

Old Air Formation Signals insignia Teabag

Gordon. wrote:

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Red hand of Ulster but still not sure why?

Old Air Formation Signals insignia Teabag

Yeh probably but I have little red aeroplanes on my tie!

Yes ..me also ,but there are others..

http://www.afsa-assu.co.uk/

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Officers at 20 Bde had the mulberry (?) pullovers while we plebs just had the normal green ones. That's another thing, name tags. 21st Signal Regt made you have them but I was told "get that off" at 20 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn.

Officers and member of 20 bde HQ staff, including us Staff clerks teabag

Quote :

It was Brum, on promotion to WO2 we had to purchase a Brown Hat & Chin Strap, Brown Leather Gloves, a Silk Tie, a Blue Pullover, Brown Silver Stud Shoes, No 1 Dress Badge of Rank (for the pullover) and large RA Shoulder Titles.

On promotion to WOII? We didn't do that until WOI in the RAOC Shelldrake

jim wrote:

Quote :

Officers at 20 Bde had the mulberry (?) pullovers while we plebs just had the normal green ones. That's another thing, name tags. 21st Signal Regt made you have them but I was told "get that off" at 20 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn.

Officers and member of 20 bde HQ staff, including us Staff clerks teabag

Quote :

It was Brum, on promotion to WO2 we had to purchase a Brown Hat & Chin Strap, Brown Leather Gloves, a Silk Tie, a Blue Pullover, Brown Silver Stud Shoes, No 1 Dress Badge of Rank (for the pullover) and large RA Shoulder Titles.

On promotion to WOII? We didn't do that until WOI in the RAOC Shelldrake

Yes, but didn't everyone make WO 1 in the RAOC, Jim?

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On promotion to WOII? We didn't do that until WOI in the RAOC Shelldrake

Ditto R. Sigs.

Never reached that high, thank gawd, so i`ve no idea what the REME did up there.

Same as Sigs

Foxtrot Alpha!

Our work was 'Top Sacred' - 'For God's Eyes Only' - the general 'hoi polloi' would not understand.

Len (Ciphers)

I`ve just noticed i`ve made WO1, does that mean i`ve got to go and buy all that crap you were on about, brown cap etc.
I think i`d look a right pratt in that gear now.

Na, line Regiments only!!