[Cardinal]

Getting back to basics, one could argue that the worst piece of WW2 kit was the British uniform, particularly the upper tunic that caused so many complaints from the infantry ...

[jim]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Getting back to basics, one could argue that the worst piece of WW2 kit was the British uniform, particularly the upper tunic that caused so many complaints from the infantry ...

Ah the famous or should we say infamous BD.

I have heard many tales of woe about the army Battle dress. Itching for the use of.

Evidently upon being fitted out the first job was to shave the inside of the collar.

I have also heard some good words about it, it seems that even when wet it would keep you warm. (although it would take about a month to dry out).
I remember one chap that was at Normandy telling a group of us at Duxford that his biggest complaint was his boots, they just fell apart after getting wet during the landings.
After a couple of weeks he managed to get another pair, now I dont know if it was a wind up or not but he told us that the first thing you did with new boots was to pee in them!!!!!!!!!
It helped soften them and you never had foot rot!!!!!!!!!

All I can say is that life is very boring these days.

[Shawn 507]

Oh if we're talking British kit, it would have to be your brew up kits. Stopping for tea, what a bloody waste of time. Just kidding!
- Shawn

[MoMo]

Re: Worst Piece of WW2 Kit!

---

Oh if we're talking British kit, it would have to be your brew up kits. Stopping for tea, what a bloody waste of time. Just kidding!
- Shawn

Shawn, you will call down the wrath of the moderators again if there is a flame war about the British Brew-Up! Skunky will have to dress up as a Red indian and invade British ships at berth in Boston Harbour to put out the fires with his magic tail raised high; and with the ambiance extremely high!

The BD was dreadful, though. It was wartime, remember!

[Shamrock]

What about the Webley .38 revolver. Not the effective .38 (Smith and Wesson) Special but the anaemic round that rumour had would not penetrate a wet greatcoat.

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Shawn, you will call down the wrath of the moderators again if there is a flame war about the British Brew-Up! Skunky will have to dress up as a Red indian and invade British ships at berth in Boston Harbour to put out the fires with his magic tail raised high; and with the ambiance extremely high!

The BD was dreadful, though. It was wartime, remember!

Speaking of brewing up my father brought back from Anzio an American issue petrol stove.

This thing was lethal and it took the steady hand of an old service man like my dad to handle it safely, (mum and me being instructed to stand well back while he lit the thing),having said that it singed his eyebrows on more than one occasion, but it certainly boiled water fast!!

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Shawn, you will call down the wrath of the moderators again if there is a flame war about the British Brew-Up! Skunky will have to dress up as a Red indian and invade British ships at berth in Boston Harbour to put out the fires with his magic tail raised high; and with the ambiance extremely high!

The BD was dreadful, though. It was wartime, remember!

MoMo, I fear not the wrath of my tea drinking distant cousins. My American upbringing and Scottish blood prevent me from being worried over what the English might do. Now if the time was spent making coffee, all would be forgiven.
- Shawn

[MoMo]

MoMo, I fear not the wrath of my tea drinking distant cousins. My American upbringing and Scottish blood prevent me from being worried over what the English might do. Now if the time was spent making coffee, all would be forgiven.
- Shawn

Shawn, the Scots are greater consumers of tea than the English! In fact, there has been a demographic shift in the South of England. Coffee is now more popular than Tea.

How the mighty myths tumble like English wickets before the host of Australia!

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by jim

....now I dont know if it was a wind up or not but he told us that the first thing you did with new boots was to pee in them!!!!!!!!!
It helped soften them and you never had foot rot!!!!!!!!!
.

I thought this was common knowledge....Just make sure ya do it over carpet so that any overflow won't mess up the hardwood..

[MoMo]

I thought this was common knowledge....Just make sure ya do it over carpet so that any overflow won't mess up the hardwood..

Yes, I remember my father telling me stories like this when I was a kid. I was shocked!

In Burma he had to leave his boots upside-down at night, and shake them in the morning, just to make sure that nothing nasty had crawled inside during the night.
He also had to set tent-poles in cans of water to discourage the termites from eating the wooden tent poles!