webkitlover

I don't have knowledge about medals but due to the age it may well be an "upper class" thing if you see the shooting figures on the medal, they are wearin traditional jacket and hats that the royals were seen to wear when shooting in that era, 3 of them are aiming or shooting, but not the 4th? Perhaps they are a loader? Perhaps awarded at an "inter-college" or "inter-school" competition?

Aha! thanks, yeah just not covered well in the civilian media. I may well be able to get hold of a copy of that magazine cheers.

Hi all, I'm continuing with my Northern Ireland remeniscence sessions for British troops in Kings lynn, there will soon be a display at Bridge for Heros all about the subject that any one that has served in the MoD will be welcome to visit. I'll give details nearer the time Wondered if anyone that was posted in NI could answer the following: What was it like Patrolling over Christmas? for example Did you work different hours? Where the civilians any different towards you? What were parties like? What was the food like over Christmas? Did you get any special extras or presents from the MoD? Any info would be great, i guess mostly because of security and the lack of photos, I've found it very difficult to find any info photos or stories about what happened to troops over Christmas in NI. Please use fake details if you wish.

LOL my local saddler 🤣 I might have to travel back in time for that! not many of them where I live, I will try to have a look though, the rivets I have are either to small or too big, and the only other ones I've found are the wrong colour, thanks for the advice

wow didn't like the 3 pairs of trousers with the light spotty/blobby patterns, glad they went the MTP, It would be interesting to see where the patterns intended use was, the light greeny coloured one must have only worked in a very small area perhaps grasslands? i still like the pecoc, you can see they really tried to stick with the DPM theme! I just remembered, way back in the late 80's possibly 90's the clothing company S.A.S.S. (famous for making quality SAS style jackets with loads more pockets), they had an option to use military grade "Urban DPM" that looked almost identical to the grey version you're showing. It's funny how grey, white, and black camos like the US "ACU" pop up every few year for a test, only to be proved it's not very good...yet again, lol

To be honest I don't know, I assume it's the domed sort. if they are hollow I can do it myself thanks anyway.

yeah, I think they must be, they are the upgrade of the awful "Boots Hi-leg" and Identical to boots I was issued in the early 90's, which fits in with the Op Granby date. I have seen boots in worse condition mine haven't quite got there yet, Oh well. I might try the re-sole option. I do have a copy of Boots combat High, which look identcal and have the zig-zag tread but the leather is different, I've been told they are Canadian. they seem ok so I can wear them for Public events. shame though, they aren't as comfy!

Hi I was given this SLR or lee Enfield (I assume) sling to attempt a repair, it is cotton canvas and it's blanco'ed white. someone had removed and replaced the original brass rivets with cheap aluminium ones, which also distorted the brass plate . I've managed to remove the alu ones quite easily, but not sure where to get brass replacements, do they exist? or am I going to have to do a mock up? I have brass grommets like you get on the edge of a tarp I could fill with a thicker piece of brass and somehow shape it. otherwise I'm stuck.

ah thought so, good old Kapok! I have a bag of Kapok I bought it from a charity shop!

I have one of these to, but I noticed something quite interesting on a document about the evolution of British Nylon webbing that although it is a NV case, it almost exactly fits the description of a rear pouch "like the 1980 ski bum bag" that was considered to replace kidney pouches that never got further than experimental stage. Is it a coincidence that it has Kidney pouch fittings and a waterbottle or mess tin will also fit in it?

i just noticed some sudden softening of my soles after a public event they have gone from hard rubber to a a point that I can easily bend the grips. I will keep an eye to make sure they don't get worse.

I have a DPM version of these, "windproof" or "SAS" , the crossover thing is weird but comfortable, yours looks the same where the buckle is removeable i'e' buttoned on!

Brilliant recreations there! please show more! I just noticed you even have the US issue flak jacket that was issued in NI! I feel sorry for the soviet guy, I've tried them! those masks are horrible to wear!

I have a distant memory, i can't remember exactly which pouch it was (possibly shop bought Arktis) But i remember there being some discussion that an S10 respirator could be easily stored in another pouch, (to reduce the bulk of the normal resi pouch). There was alot of kit modification in the early 90's in the TA! I think it may have been in reference to a training excersise where masks needed to be carried without NBC gear perhaps it was FIBUA? (which still dosen't quite sound right to me). Obviously it was not following standard or unit SOP's, as you are meanyt to keep everything NBC in the Respirator pouch so it may have just been a discussion with squaddie friends. but as long as what you had still functioned in the way it was designed to and it didn't look too foreign you could get away with quite alot. I guess the guys in the photos are doing just that within a kit boundry (i.e. it's British) , they are using what is comfortable and what works.

Just another idea, if they are RAF issue. the cotton layer is literally just to soak up sweat for comfort. If they were part of aircrew issue, then pilots and aircrew would be wearing thin leather gloves as a fire protection, in which case the rubber gloves could be worn out side these. don't know this for a fact but it would seem to make sense.

I have a feeling because it was trials equipment and not for General issue there probably never was a manual for the webbing as it would have been set up and demonstrated by the designers prior to issue, and the rucksacks are pretty simple to use. it's strange really I have a US issue Manual for the use of the large ALICE rucksack, which goes into great detail about how to attatch things, how to open and close it, how to clean and replace bits, how to sew up holes, plus all the extras like waterproof covers and stuffsacks. It's pretty similar in shape and size, it's made from different materials the features, are not as complex but similar. To be honest once the straps are in the right place, you don't need to do much unless it falls apart, in which case you tape it up or get a new one from stores , and that's what squaddies do!

DAMMIT! 😧 I gave a "rubber/plastic cap" 44 bottle away to a charity shop a few years ago! I say "rubber /plastic" because I think the lid was perhaps a form of late bakalite? or early polyurethene? it had a solid outer and a rubber washer but the whole cap wasn't made of just rubber. anyhow, Someone gave me this bottle to me as a swap for kit, saying it "might" be a 44" bottle, but they wern't sure. The bottle was heavily scratched and dented, It had a cord replacement on the lid, the rubber cap was not a good fit, (so it was limited practical use to me anyway). I also couldn't see any markings military or other on it at all. I kept it in my cupboard a few years. The only 44" bottles I'd heard of at the time had metal lids because I'd heard people used to paint the tops to camouflage them. ultimately the lack of metal lid and no markings I assumed it was simply a fake. I showed it to some veteran friends they also couldn't identify it for the same reasons, and they weren't issued them so had no idea either, infact they suggested it might even be American issue, which I knew was even further from the truth. I couldn't prove if it was (or not) real and it was in bad condition, so I sent it to a charity shop in a bundle of clothes, thought someone else may know what it is and didn't think twice about it. About a month or 2 later, I visited Duxford IWM they have a few displays of 1944" kit and they displayed both types of the 44" bottle! but.... on the first Photo you can clearly see: A 44" waterbottle, it's painted green for camo, with a black rubber cap, and a parachute cord for the cap! 😱 NOOOOOOOO!!!! and the second photo shows the same type of bottle in it's pouch with cord again!

wow, nice effort! could you name each of the camo patterns (or ref) I only recognise about 4!

Not meaning to be thick but how does it work? I assume it's just a coverall like the modern flight suits it appears to have buttons for a warm liner but, it dosen't look like it would be "bouyant. Perhaps is it full of "kapoc" (a cotton wool like water resistant plant fibre found in old life preservers)

Thankyou so much for the photos, and advice. I've used them already and they have been a great source of conversation for the veterans I'm working with. I've found out loads myself, The Navy were involved, one ship was delivering vehicles for "operation motor man" 1 guy that was stationed on the ship said you could hear bullets bouncing off the hull when they were getting shot at! Some early troops in the North of NI had their barracks on a ship. I think what surprised me most was that when troops first arrived in 69 , it was all inner city problems, there were no barracks, or set aside area to set up camps at all, so they just cordonned off a road and slept there in on the streets, I 'd like to find photos of that, but cameras weren't as available in those days. Aparently the city kids were a real pain, they'd trip you up and push bins behind you as you'd walk backwards on patrol. and riding in the back of a pig (Humber) was terrible, the suspension was **** and the seating comfort was non existant so any sleeping policeman you went over would cause massive discomfort to anyone in the back.

Well, as long as they were in military service I don't mind, BOAR was around the same time so it must have been used in NI too.I seem to remember using one with a rectangular mirror but it's a long time ago!

yep quite likely didn't reach the sellers set price. I drove another well used but failr new one (non military) over 120k on the clock and the price went for well over £17,000.

Hi I believe there is still an Armoured Landrover that has not sold from previous sales. (PLEASE CHECK FIRST) In desert colours and has leaf camo attatched in sheets on all sides looks like its post 1st Gulf war kit, the rear is a armoured compartment (kevlar or carbon fibre I think) with roof gunner hatch, it has a few wear signs by doors but not much The front armoured windows have not sure what the word is, but they look like some of the layers have split or let in water. so the windows seem misted up, (and of course you can't open the windows) but it does have all the belts seats, working air-con etc All the doors work and have garden style bolts, no central locking . theres also another large metal gate between the driver and rear seats I don't know if this is to keep people in or out, but its very heavy duty! I've driven it twice now, feels like a normal landrover but obviously much heavier, visibility is terrible, and theres a drop down riot sheild that makes it worse, but you'd expect that. I'm not a mechanic so I can't tell you if it's got problems but it seems to drive change gear, brake etc fine with no odd crunchy noises. There was also a Olive coloured MoD JCB digger but it was in a horrible condition, the gears were mashed!

cool thanks. where did you get the codes from?

Brilliant got the photos, yeah anythin like that is fantastic. I was told the other day that a "Greenfinch" needed an escort to a different area and due to security she had to change her appearance to remain safe, she aparently without any warning suprised the squaddies buy suddenly getting changed right in front of them in the back of a van! and someone else was seving dacades later on security gates, going through the mundane chore of checking suspiciousand random cars that entered or left the base. He said that the base got complaints because one woman in particular on base with a yellow car got stopped every day, (she was never suspicious in any way). It so happened that in the 80's red cars were very popular, black, brown, green, and blue were also common. Pink and yellow cars (as is still the case today) are not such popular colours. So, If you're playing "car search snooker" i.e. red car, then another colour, red then another colour, and finally pot the colours in order. The yellow car would understandably be very difficult to come by and important search! poor lady, they were only trying to get good breaks! lol