Redcap

It is my sad duty to relay that Felix, the leading and guiding light of the Chatham Militaria Fair, passed onto pastures greener on New Years Day. We knew this day was coming, but thought it wouldn't be so soon. Information was from Viktor over on the WWIIreenacting forums. Felix was the guy who, a few years ago, got the Chatham Militaria Fair up and running, who made sure that it was an event for both traders and re-enactors alike. There are many on this forum who also met and knew him, too, including the Bunker Bash Guys. He'll be very sorely missed in the community.

"Dad, I know the credit crunch is hurting us, but don't you think downsizing the fuel bill this way is a little OTT?"

A Satnag (google it :evil: ), a box set of season 1 NCIS, and I've yet to find out what the other half has got for me - I get to see her after new year (long Distance relationship). Mind you, I got my own back for the Satnag. Gave my Brother-in-Law a set of camo golf balls, as he mentioned once that he's always losing his :rofl:

Merry Christmas, and a Happy and prosperous New Year to you all Oh - and lay off the sprouts today - HMG has determined them to be a biowar component :evil:

And there you go, I was thinking you lot meant old-style Army coaches, like the old Air Force ones from the 1970s! oh well, at least the ones you're on about have a much more useful purpose

Break an egg? Hate to break (sic) this to you, but I'm a crap cook Much better at yelling at folks wot 'ave problems toeing da loine David - nope, photos are there; if you can't see them still, try the event photos page over on our webby, CWP

That, Mark, me old mate, is why we used Land Rovers :rofl: Ever wonder why so many field suspects were brought in with lower leg injuries? :evil:

heh, you can hear him now... "Honest lads - I wuz nicked by twenty ten-foot tall Monkeys!" Mind you, you shoulda seen his OC when we asked him "Where d'yo want 'im, guv?" Damn near fell over himself laughing :evil: There's a few more photos from the December Chatham Militaria Fair up on the ukms2000 site too, they're on there now, but the three important ones are now repeated (with their kind permission) over on the Cold War Provost site at http://www.practicalairsoft.co.uk/cwp/event-photos.html Enjoy

Squirrel News network: "Having determined that the infiltration of the UK by US Grey Squirrels was progressing too slowly, the Grey Squirrel Government (GSG) has declared war on British Red Squirrels (BRS). The Government issued this order through SNN at midnight: 'All teeth arm troops are to report to their units for immediate assignment'" PFC Busheytail listened carefully, and muttered under his breath... "Nuts to that, I'm on my lunch break!"

Interestingly, they pulled Cheese Possessed from about two years-worth of every GP rat pack menu a few years back - looks like Primula (the then supplier) must have stuffed up the packaging or something, as I was led to believe that it went well off in normal storage

heh, that Canadian looks like a big lad - he's practically towering over the two Brits :evil: Anyhow, yeah, those are precisely the sort of photos I look for; official photos are all well and good, but as you say, they tend to be staged, and as a result, tend only to show what the official line is (normally at the hands of the relevant units' RSM!): Personal photos (which I primarily look for, along with news photos, for the same reason) are not normally posed with such an emphasis on correctness of kit, etc, and for that reason give a better idea of the actual situation at a given time. You can, as you can see, with a little thought and knowledge, tell a heck of a lot from such photos... Your photo, for example, shows the two Brits wearing different kit - the lad nearest the Humber Pig (I thought it was a Champ at first, but note the angle of the roof!) appears to be wearing BD trousers (note placement of leg pocket), whereas the lad in the foreground (who I think appears to be wiping his hands on a cloth or bar of soap) appears to be wearing 60-pattern trousers (leg pocket and belt loops refer); both are wearing headovers, which most troops hate, so I'd hazard a guess that they're playing "red forces" (later exercises, such as Lionheart in the 1980s, renamed that into "orange Forces" as while it's alright to use all manner of nastiness in killing the enemy, you can't call it rude names, oh no :nut:). I also notice that they've gone well over the top in camouflaging their Pig - it's a veritable wheeled bush! Just look at all the foliage on the top and sides! Anyhow, thanks for the photo - it's useful in showing the changeover from BD to OG in the early 1960s

I know we went through a field full of cow poo, but isn't this a little OTT in getting the smell off?

Neil, be thankful, by the way, that they've moved a lot of the stock from the basement to the upper floors - allegedly, the rats were starting to have to sharpen their teeth to get through the gear to their food sources* :shocking: (* Source: Jon, Forces 80 Group Leader)

Shirts, KF, may be easily obtained (after a bit of rummaging) from Sabre Sales in Pompy... Addy: 85-87 Castle Road, Southsea, Hants., PO5 3AY Tel: 023 9283 3394 Give 'em a bell before you turn up so that they can make sure there's someone on hand to help you - you have to rummage around yourself to get the gear, and the shop/warehouse is HUMONGOUS! When I first visited the place, my eyes damn near parted company with my skull, they popped out so far! :shocked: Oh, and while parking in that area is, indeed, free, expect to drive around for a parking place a couple of times Hope this is of help

Good point; I guess a lot of the photos I've laid my mitts on are what could be described as "PR" photos, so they would want to get the uniform just right, but even so, I've been getting hold of material over the last couple of weeks that tends to show all manner of odd combinations of kit :wow: I think I had best make the best use of the anecdotal info for the most part; I half suspect it'll be closer to the actual situation that was out there in BAOR in the 60s than any actual photographic "evidence" that has or might come to light! Anyhow, cheers one and all for the assists here They're VERY much appreciated :thanx: :-D

Interesting... thanks OK, thanks This is getting odd. I was under the distinct impression that gaiters went out with Battle Dress, replaced by short puttees on the introduction of 60-pattern Olive Greens. I've photographic confirmation of this from several sources, and yet first hand anecdotal and photo evidence on here suggests that gaiters were in use even after the initial issues of 68-pattern DPM kit. This is getting really bloody odd! Hmm... where'd I leave the sandpaper... I'm getting splinters in me bonce from all the head scratching of late :nut:

cool - thanks lads

Off Topic question about that photo - I'm currently researching 60 pattern kit, which those two lads are wearing. Unless I miss my guess, they're using Gaiters rather than putees; with this in mind, what date is the photo?

Well... it was only an idle thought I also notice that the Colorado plate omits the aircraft logo, meaning presumably that there is another design for the Colorado ANG (Air National Guard). Of course, it could also be that this is merely a draft plate for consideration purposes. *shrugs* Best bet? Contact the State of Colorado Department that deals with National Guard stuff, and ask 'em

It could just be that Colorado don't require their NG vehicles to be annually restamped, instead relying on paperwork in each "NG Armory" to certify their vehicles roadworthy (annual plate changes being their form of MOT sticker and Road Tax certificate rolled into one, after all). That sound plausible?

I couldn't possibly comment :whistle::rofl:

I'd suggest a temporary fix might be to restrict the membership list to fully approved members, then?

Compromise time: pack a kilo box of broken biccies from the milkman, quid a kilo last time I got some from that source (granted it was over two years back), and you get all manner of bloody good quality biccies in those boxes - often not broken at all, too!

It's bloody slow, probably 'cvause everyone's using it now, but signing up's free, and it's handy for areas you don't know too... http://www.petrolprices.com/

As far as the cheaper supermarkets that do fuel can make it, is my bet. Was it Asda who dropped their price the other day? Anyhow, everyone else, with a couple of exceptions round here, have dropped their prices. I filled my car up for a shade over 50 quid - first time I've been able to do that in bloody ages!