Spanners and other stuff you could put in the tool boxes

[Stephen White]

Mark, John (x2) not an urban myth at all. I can vouch for what John H described. In 1975 we exercised with a famous French-Canadian infantry, the “van doose” ie Royal 22nd Regiment. They were wild sober or not (mostly not). Brassing up our turret baskets and bins happened on at least three occasions during that Med Man. I witnessed the first when I noticed a strange plume following my troop corporals tank. We were of course closed down at the time but when we opened up, it became obvious that at least one member of his crew needed a new sleeping bag.

I can’t claim I saw the second but I heard the impacts, three rounds into the NBC pack. This was after they had been supposedly been given the gipsy’s warning by their company commander.

They were playing with big boys’ toys, .50 cal Brownings, heavy machine guns mounted on their M113s.

Rather than retaliate there and then, wiser council prevailed. We invited them to a party at the end of the exercise. Rather than heading back into Camp Crowfoot, we organized a barbecue in the wooden village that had been created on the final Battle Group objective. It had pretty much been destroyed in the final assault which added to the atmosphere as the sun went down. We recruited in Glasgow and Fife, where the miners were small and very tough. The Van Doose were notorious drinkers and obviously thought they were on a winner, free booze, barbie and some Brits to annoy. They hadn’t taken into account how a small Jock soldier behaves when “with drink taken”. To say that they had a few absent on parade the next day ..... They looked like survivors from the Somme. They cleaned up their wagons, loaded them and disappeared shortly after, not taking the Battle Group commander up on his invitation to another party. We decided, given their well deserved reputation earned the hard way in WW2, that we’d have them on our side but only if they always preceded the tanks into action.

John, I did indeed recall that we had a common SOP across the Regiment that the front left hull bin was cleaned, painted with white paint and used a the food bin.

[John Clarke]

Super stuff from the three amigos.

Here's the best reason for single stick driving

You've got a hand free for those all important actions.

Sitting here drinking wine beer, eating cheese and catching a few rays....man

[Mark Heaps]

Great info, Stephen !

I saw no "action" whatsoever during 22 years even though half of that was intimate support to tanks. I did Gulf War 1 ( although I got flown out on compassionate grounds just before the ground war started) , two 6-month tours in Bosnia, one 6-month tour in Kosovo, Gulf War 2 and then 2 years later, 6 months in Iraq.
The only time I felt that I had ever been in any danger of getting hurt was during Gulf War 2. We had had a missile alert so we we were hunkered down in the trenches for like 45 minutes with respirators (gas masks ) and helmets on until the all clear came through, it was a false alarm. Removed helmet, removed respirator, looked down into helmet and saw a two-inch long scorpion in it. It had been on my head the whole time. That was the most danger I ever got exposed to and I was not aware of it until it was over.
During the 6-months in Iraq, there was only one missile /rocket attack on the base I was at ( Basra Airfiel ), and it occurred during the two weeks I was back in Germany on R&R.
The only one of my medals I think I genuinely earnt and deserved was the LS&GC, the rest were just badges for being at a certain place at the right time.
Mark

[John Clarke]

The only one of my medals I think I genuinely earnt and deserved was the LS&GC, the rest were just badges for being at a certain place at the right time.
Mark

Sorry Mark, I have to disagree with you,

You were there and therefore "earnt" everything and more that you were given. Like all our armed services personnel.

[Mark Heaps]

Hi John Clarke,
I appreciate your thoughts but have to disagree with you.
I went to war twice, GW1 and GW2, but saw nothing, I was just there supporting the vehicles and equipment which was my job, and if I was doing my job correctly, all the vehicles I were supporting were fully operational and out there between the enemy and me.

Our father did a tour of Northern Ireland and put himself in danger- I never did, never had to, wanted to or saw any reason for me to go to Northern Ireland unless tanks were deployed and they needed to be kept working.
My brother John put himself in danger in Belize & Bosnia, and lost some close friends during his service.
Our younger sister Kim (RMP SIB) went into Afghanistan and at times had close escort from American troops, attack helicopters hovering overhead and fast jets circling on immediate call.
They earnt their medals, mine were just attendance badges. The one person who really deserved a medal but never got one was our mother.

Mark

[John-Heaps]

Hi Mark,
i disagree, without REME support how long could a unit last, even foot mounted inf need resupply which requires vehicles, heavy units more so, if it was not for the support arms the teeth arms could not operate, it was all a team effort, ok you did not have to squeeze a trigger, but without the efforts of the support arms neither could we, as for your medals mate they were earnt not given, you just did your bit in a different fashion to keep the teeth arms between you and the bad guys which was your job, if you had not done so how many more guys would we have lost.
You know that in my old unit we considered all attached arms to be part of our regiment, there was no us and them.

By the way, our Mum does not deserve a medal, she should be sainted for putting up with us lot.
Cheers Bro
John

[Phil Woollard]

Hexi burner tablets used for warming your feet and to create diversions, simply break a piece off the size of a lozenge, stand a small arms rnd on top and light the tablet. you have around 1.5 mins until it "cooks off" For Service personnel only mind you! I bet this gets deleted but i dont mind:?

[John Clarke]

Found some new dragon figures with era kit at this site Machinegun at www.machinegun-figures.com, at relatively reasonable prices.
Kit bashing has become very expensive when a 58 webbiing and a Stirling on the ebay costs more than these whole kits being offered with tax and postage from France.
I don't think they'll be around for long at 79 euros + tax and postage.
The Stirling's nice, folding stock and cocking mechanism, but very delicate.

[John Clarke]

Managed to find a nice beret badge 17th/21st Lancers for the little guy. A chap on the internet does a nice selection of pewter badges a pound a time plus postage. He'll even make specials at cost.

[Mark Russell]

Found some new dragon figures with era kit at this site Machinegun at www.machinegun-figures.com, at relatively reasonable prices.
Kit bashing has become very expensive when a 58 webbiing and a Stirling on the ebay costs more than these whole kits being offered with tax and postage from France.
I don't think they'll be around for long at 79 euros + tax and postage.
The Stirling's nice, folding stock and cocking mechanism, but very delicate.
SAM_3464.JPG
SAM_3461.JPG
SAM_3458.JPG

Just ordered a complete set of all the Falklands figures John as a bargain at this price

[John Clarke]

Happy to help.

[andymusgrove]

Hi John interested in the Cap badge guy if you dont mind please

Cheers

Andy

[Dave Dibb (Armorpax)]

Not sure if its one and the same but I have always used Tony Barton for cap badges and stuff.

www.antheads.co.uk

http://www.antheads.co.uk/catguide/badges

Best regards

Dave

[John Clarke]

Yes that's the man.
He's got a great selection and says he can do custom jobs too.
I was very pleased with the detail.

[Stephen White]

Tony is an absolute star. He made me custom 1st (Australian) Armoured Regiment cap badges for my Cent, only charged a tenner and sent several copies. Brilliant guy, exquisite work.