Living in a material world | Innovation | British Army 

This should be a far longer video, I joined in 1991 and served till 2013. Amazing how kit has changed since I left 9 yrs ago!

Interesting to see that the type of equipment being issued now is essentially what soldiers have been modifying the older equipment into or actually buying for themselves previously. The amount of time and effort/money that could be saved be speaking and listening to what the guys and girls actually use and often spend their own money on when deployed, and issuing that rather than trying to reinvent the wheel every time a service need is identified for new equipment. Best purchase I ever did ( huge amount of my own money then ) was a set of Matterhorn Boots, Buffalo Thermals and a Snugpak Softie and Arctic Sleeping bag for my second tour of Bosnia, having suffered with pathetic issued kit the previous winter tour.

DMS boots were phased out around 1984, and replaced by combat highs. but for some strange reason "putties" were still issued for several more years. As for the 58 webbing, a lot of us ditched the kidney pouches, and added 3 water bottle pouches (without the water bottles of course 😁) the large pack was replaced by just about every one, with a bergen. If you was allowed to customise, the 58 wasn't too bad. There was also a very rare 74 pattern, which was same as 58 but made from nylon.

You might want to add the rest of the video name guys

Nice to see how the kit has evolved since my time as a crow in 72.

Fantastic, what a privilege to see your family on this video. Thank you for your service. Best Army in the world with bang average kit. Imagine if the army looked after its human resource as well as it looked after other resources?

The brown Altberg boots are good value I buy them from surplus stores and wear them for landscaping and tree work they don't have steel toes but they are quite protective I have dropped heavy logs on them. They are surprisingly comfortable.

I joined in 1982 and was issued DMS boots and putties, 65 pattern combats, mk5 helmets, 58 webbing etc. and had an SLR as my personal weapon. By the end of the decade everything had changed, boots combat high, mk6 helmets, 85 pattern combats, PLCE, SA80s etc. also the 432s and Chieftains had given way to Warrior and Challenger. It was a completely different Army.

Great concept - enjoyed it. Plus two great, articulate people to share it - and love the mother / son angle. :-) Would have enjoyed a longer vid to be honest!

What year did she join, in 1987 we where issued combat high boots and my 6 helmets, you had to buy ammo boots for drill yourself.

I joined the FCA (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) in Ireland before I joined the British army in 1999 the FCA was like the Irish TA of the time. They had all that kit there 58 pattern webbing FN Rifles and those tin helmets lol... When I was at Pirbright ATR (Army Training Regiment) combat 95's where new and when i left 2013 MTP was new i got issued it in 2012 before my last tour Afghanistan. I still speak to friends that are still in and changes are massive in such a small amount of time

Wow nice kit! I remember shirt itchy, DMS and putties, oh and lightweights, and the razzman dragging his pacestick point over my bulled towcap😕, RAMC junior leader 1985 JFDI

thank you both for your service ! I joined in 1981 at 16 years old - puttees & ankle high boots...

I joined in ‘74 as a Jnr Para and left in 2020. Kit has indeed evolved and, in my time, got better ! My waterproof in ‘75 was a self bought ‘Peter Storm’ which had to be worn UNDER the Denison Smock. I still remember, sadly, when the QM burnt all the Denison smocks 😥. However, we remain in the era of soldiers buying their own kit for comfort, speed and accessibility albeit not so much as “in my day” which is a shame. In my view, this is an entertaining and informative video which should not be subject to derogatory comments, based on physical fitness and appearance !!

I joined as a junior leader in 1972 just as green combats changed over to DPM. I never got the virtus kit only plce. I ditched the boots combat high for privately purchased Altberg boots in the late 80s. Even more Gucci kit was being issued as I left uniformed service in 2017.

I joined the Aussie army in 1989 and we were still using Viet Nam era kit - althiough we still had a bit of '37 and '44 pattern kit around the place. The Army had that Viet Nam kit essentially unchanged from the mid 60s until around 1990 - when my unit got a priority issue of the then new Auscam webbing - because we were going on Southern Cross/Northern Star - an 6(?) week exchange with the Blues and Royals. That kit stayed the same until about 2000 - but since then the kit has been getting steadily replaced on a relatively quick tempo, thanks to the GWOT. Essentially when I was in I bought all my own field kit, webbing by Web Force and my pack was the old SAS Mark VI from Wilderness Equipment, which I sadly sold. They are still much sought after, but I thought they'd never stop making them back then. Today's kit is a lot better - the issue kit looks usable.

I was with 3ADTR in the mid 80s based in Duisburg, Germany and drove Old Foden fuel tankers - was always tasked with filling up 3 Army Air Corps AC Refuelers at their base, would always say to the AAC lads to pop their top tank lids prior to me filling them up - due to the pressure of pumping in the aviation fuel. They never did, every single time, the AAC lads would say they had done so, but would only seem to do it once i had started pumping in, so you can imagine the explosion of pressure when they opened the top lid and i would see them flying of the top of the AC Refueler. I would also warn them that the fuel would be pumped in quickly and that they would need to shout to me when the tank was around half full, so when i turned off the pump it would be more or less at he top of their tank, they never did that either and you would get a massive geyser shooting into the air spraying aviation fuel everywhere. It was that bad they even started having a fire engine sit watching the procedure. We in the end sent 2 people so one of us would do the pumping whilst the other told the AAC lads what to do - It seemed that they never had any training and it made the whole process dangerous - well working with fuel tankers never stopped me smoking in the good old days.

Thank You so much

Good video. Takes me back to my TF RNZE days (1984-96) when alternate kit was often useful or essential. This was typically either bought from a surplus store or from other soldiers who had a sideline in making alternative kit such as belt pads which reduced chafing and also stopped the US webbing clips from ripping off your belt loop buttons. I still have the belt order pad which is useful for occasional pest control work.

Great to see the boot evolution. The black leather ones were shocking in the late 80s and early 90s. One new boot would cause more pain to your foot than the whole rest of your body would enjoy on a CFT or other tab. No wonder we started to buy our own and only some corps/regiments allowed that unofficially 😂

By 1989 the British army had gone from the mk 5 helmet to the mk 6, changed over to the (BCH) boots combat high. Everyone hated the 58 pattern webbing and around that time the PLCE was introduced. Also the S10 respirator, was replacing the S6, which was a big improvement and of course, the army had gone over to the SA80 (L85), replacing the L1A1 SLR, which very different.

Great video Folks. I Joined in 1989 and left in 2006. Remember well the 58 pattern webbing (unfortunately). Positive evolution of versatile equipment shown

Amazing how the modern kit is basically what we were buying or ourselves in the 90s. Boots, bergen, webbing, bashas, sleeping bags, combat jacket, shirts and waterproofs were all privately purchased. About the only things I wore that were issued was the trousers, NBC kit and helmet.

When she mentioned cutting up a roll mat for your webbing, brought back a few memories. If you was handywith a needle and thread you could make a very effective "Belt" out of your webbing. As mentioned in other posts on here you ditch the kidney pouches and get ahold of extra water bottle pouches. These sewn together could form a very comfortable belt and hold a lot of kit. Joined 85 left in 2012 yes it was a very different Army from when I started to when I left but seeing these videos its amazing to see how much iots come along in the 10 yearsd I have been out.

Needs to be a longer video. I think the only things we have now, that was similar to kit then, is things like the beret and wooly pully. I joined June 1988.

DMS boots, Putties, tin hats and metal water bottles were all we had in the RAF in 1983. We were even using the S6 resperator before the S10 came out.

There was so much personal purchased kit used when I joined in ‘86. That was still the case into the ‘90’s with Danner boots, Softie Jackets, Munro daysacks and Windproof/Arktis smocks being just a few of the “Gucci” (now Ally) items of choice. The variety and choice of boots available now seems much better. I use AKU boots similar to one of the issue options for civvie hiking in the hills. Virtus seems to have had mixed reactions, there’s still a lot of blokes using their own traditional belt kit in preference to the issue version. That should probably be taken onboard back up the chain.

Yup, I received the scid lid (metal helmet) & 58 pattern webbing when if it got wet would shrink n do all kinds of weird stuff. Also had the ammo boots, the L1A1 SLR, a non waterproof sleeping bag which did have some kind of rubber cover on the bottom but by the time the 58 pattern webbing had got to us the rubber was just rotted away. Used a poncho & dug out a shell scrape to sleep in. Issued to Itchy shirts & a woolly jumper to keep us warm which was never 👎 any use even when new but the army as always made do & got on with things, watched loads of my mates go down with hyperthermia after being wet & cold for days but u just dealt with it, these days u would be sent to hospital. I could go on & on but I know when soldier 95 came out we thought it was space age lol. Especially the webbing & gortex bag to sleep in plus a Kevlar helmet 🪖

Joined in 1972, issued 37 pattern webbing, steel helmet, DMS with gaiters, battle dress as best dress, with green combats and denims. Issued No2's in 1973, just prior to posting to BAOR. Still had 37 pattern until 1974, when we were issued 58 pattern, DPM combats and short putties. Later issued NI patrol boots during a tour in NI. Then those crap high boots prior to a tour in SA. That's the first time I had a sleeping mat or DPM waterproofs. Best thing we still had Hexi stoves and rations in tins, with cheese possessed and baby's head pudding. Mustn't forget the screech powder 😂

Mere children who do not remember 37 Pattern webbing with blancoing and brass polishing not to mention Wool Battle Dress. Ammunition Boots do not have studs they are smooth leather with heel and toe plates, no studs for working around combustible materials, great and highly valued for Drill but heavy compared to D.M.S. My 58 Pattern belt and my Stable belt seem to have somehow shrunk about a foot over the last fifty years for some reason.

I scrounged a pair of boots from a drill pig. They were ammo boots with a double thickness leather sole that simply couldn't bend. I wore them when I was a junior NCO on RP staff and for parades. Normal boots were the DMS - leather with rubber soles. Initial combat kit was green not DPM. Issued DPM late 1971. Cut down greatcoat when working on Mk 7 tugs. Served 1969-79.

The changes to equipment started post Falklands, the evolution of load carrying equipment for example the adoption of the Berghaus Vulcan Rucksack into the PLCE Bergen the use of the side pouches as (rocket pack) patrol pack that then evolved into a Day Sack patrol pack (small Bergen same as the current issue Cadet MTP "Bergen") in That units used in NI

My experience with Army kit is that it's about 1/3 as good as anything you can buy in a sporting goods store. The clothing soaks up water like sponge and won't retain heat.... unless it's hot and then you cook in it. The webbing weighs more than the ammo you carry and gets heavier with every drop of rain it soaks up. The boots chafe all the skin off your feet in the first 5 miles and, no, they aren't waterproof. Gloves? You're better off with your Granny's mittens. Of course, the people who approve the purchase of such junk never have to use it............. so soldiers that went on a training exercise in winter, in cotton uniforms and died from hypothermia, while a Japanese tourist camping in a snow cave nearby had no problem. True story from NZ.

I loved my 58 pattern webbing and of course the awesome SLR. Great days!

Lt Wendy Morton ! Served with 176 BTY (Abu Klea) on the same UNFICYP tour as me back in ‘93 Congrats on making Lt Col

I joined in '68 and left in '93. The majority of changes I saw all happened at the turn of the '80'sinto the 90's. I was driving a desk in HK then and wasn't really affected

I had one of those tin lids, DMS boots and putties in the RAF 1980-1987. Standard weapon was the 7.62 SLR lol what heavy gear.

that was 58 pattern webbing, when i joined in 1966 we where issued 47 pattern which was worn in ww2 we where also issued dms boots (rubber soled) ammo. boots were only issued mainly to the Guards

Thank you, I started my service in 1981, with similar boots, which we AB [ankle boots] and gaiters. Then to a modern GP[ general purpose] boot, which is much lie the standard high leather boot that is in service today. But not as Gucci as today's boots.

I joined in the mid 60s, we were issued DMS boots and the only time I was issued ammo boots with studs was when we had a parade to celebrate our regiment’s freedom of a German town in the 70s.

Waoooooo things has really changed😉

What is the canadian divisional patch on the son shoulder?

I joined in 2011 at ATR Bassingbourn and we got the black combat boots (the awful ones) The new MTP kit was very good though.

i joined in 89 so glad to get the new webbing when i got to battalion, ammo boots with studs in are not fun on a frosty parade ground, her kit if a lot different to mine as she was TA first, i saw the Fu Manchu suit in the vid did any one use them

I joined firstly in 1977 so would have had same kit I changed my webbing kidney pouch to water bottle pouches similar to sas rig up then over the years it slowly changed to newer versions I left in 1997

You're best off getting light role infantry to test equipment and give their honest opinions on its capabilities and comfort.

Excellent interesting video

Dms Boots went out just after the Falklands in 82! Ammo boots are generally not issued except for parade use. The newer nylon webbing started to be issued in the early 90’s. This lady is getting her dates wrong. 58 pattern webbing was nasty when wet though, but not as bad as described. If worn correctly, and tight around the waist ( not on the hips ) it was comfortable enough.

By 1989 Ammo Boots were only worn on parades . Nobody wore them day to day Combat highs came in around 84 /85 .

I joined in 69 and left in 2003 and the 432 is still in service.

I joined in 1972 Blackdown barracks, Deepcut, imagine the kit I was issued.

By 89 we were already getting issued PLCE, the 58 pattern was only going to support trades at that point so her experience doesn't reflect the typical soldier.

When I joined in 1984, we had DMS boots, Puttee's, tin hats, DPM, SLR and 58 webbing and the hated feet wrecking white plimsoles for PT. Things have definately changed.

DMS boots were terrible = shin splints. Assault boots were like wearing trainers. Haix are just superb

I used to live in middle wallop and my dad flew apaches in 2019

I can't imagine that yer wan there was issued with ammos. I joined in January 1966 and I'm pretty sure that I was one of the last intakes (RAMC) to be issued a pair of ammos and a pair of DMS. Apart from the Woodentops, I don't think any squaddies were issued ammos in the 1980s. However, I could be wrong. MsG

She ain't passing no scr or cft.

After 10 years in the old South African army I joined the British army. Seeing that they are a much wealthier nation I thought their kit would be much better than what we worked with in S.A. The British kit in 1988 were no better than the S.A. kit I was issued in 1977!! Some S.A. kit was even better then. I absolutely hated that stupid SA80 and THE MOST useless boots. I served another 12 years.

British Military is so beautiful, lovely and cool for me, I used to be an American Soldier or British Soldier.😊😇🥰😍🤗

Came for the dits. Not disappointed.

Does anyone know what boots is he wearing?

Lovely video. and I’ve made my own British army uniform the best I could do in ROBLOX

I joined in 1979 and was issued '37 pattern webbing.

Interesting, son saluting mommy since mom was commissioned first and senior in rank (just a bit). Legend has it that my mom was a US Army Captain in rank, Dad was a field commissioned office after the Japanese took out (and abused) Chinese Defence Forces for the British East India Army. Dad had to salute mom when she gave a direct order like feed your son when I am at work.🤣😂

Just to take the helmet, the mid-80s version was pretty much that which troops landed with on D-Day. Just look at the number of versions we've had in recent years. The boots now compare with anything that's on the civilian market, as do insulation and wind/waterproof layers. And all that's as it should be; materials science has progressed significantly and become affordable. No more crisp-packet non-breathable waterproofs, etc., and a better understanding of individuals' welfare.

I'm a civvy that helps with dog training, does wildlife watching, etc.I love the bog standard field jacket. Cheap, utilitarian, loads of pockets for my flask/mug things of tea plus the MTP works a treat. I can hide in gorse bushes too without being scratched to bits.😊 I wish that Uniform History would do more stuff about recent British kit as I'm interested in how this stuff evolves.

Always takes a war/ conflict for an improvement of kit and equipment.

A lot of us still wore dms with putties after combat highs were introduced, then we bought britton go fast boots...

It blows my mind that there are people in the comments who served before my parents were born. If all goes to plan I'll be off to Sandhurst in 2026

I joined in 1970 and DMS boots were the latest Gucci kit 😂. Training saw is with the WWII webbing.

I joined in 88 and Ammo Boots were not "GS" Issued kit, maybe for Public Duties. BCH (Boots Combat High) were the issued boots, from about 85 onwards. 58 Webbing I used in Basic and the first year at my regiment. Then got the newer Webbing and rucksack. The Mk4 helmet.... Not even in basic did we have them, the Mk6 was issued from around 1984. Not sure what army your mum served in but it sounds very suspect, maybe her QM was selling the new kit and issuing the kit that was phased out...

Nice to see how liberated the military and provide ladies uniforms in XL large size for those plus size soldiers. How inclusive.

I joined in 97 and combat95 cabbage kit was too thin, ripped too easily and was no good for cold weather.

I know I’m old I joined in 78 and finished 2000 but brown boots don’t look right they may be the best boots ever it’s just the colour

Ammo boots in 92 ?? I last saw ammo’s in 68, we were in dms then later boots combat high.

its not the kit its the man inside the kit

everyone had 58 pattern webbing in the eighties, combat highs, a Japanese fighting suit, S6 respirator, and mk 6 helmet. before temperate clothing and Garry gortex, we had those hideous boil in the bag wet proofs, that were pointless

She should have been issued the Combat boot, not DMS, or Ammo boots. We were issued with the combat boots in 84.

Well fitted blue patrol * sarcastic for you*

I'm shocked the comment section is still operational 😂

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Interesting... I joined in 1984: No DMS boots but 2 pairs of those cripplingly useless Combat Boot High - Absolutely dreadful. Seeing puttees issued in 1989 is a surprise though. The old tld tin lid was withdrawn in '85 for the Mk 6 Helmet & S10 Respirators replaced the S6 about the same time. 58 Patt webbing did indeed double in weight when wet & opening tabs rarely closed without a fight either. LOL Like others in this thread, we tended to get more water bottle pouches rather than kidney pouches which often leaked kit out the sides. We worked hard on our CEFO setup & knew exactly where every single item of kit we carried was located... every pouch, every time. I never saw the need for roll-mat padding or maybe I just have a big bum. GS Bergens on the old radio frames were proffed if possible as civvy-made Bergans were not cheap & the 58 Patt "Large Packs" were neither large, not practical or easy to don/doff. Thank goodness the Alt-Berg boots are in now as they are heaven compared to CBH, which in turn were much worse than DMS in my own experience. Flying Boots were comfy but totally impractical for any working on the ground as not tough enough. Interesting vid.

I thought the Army stopped issuing Ammo boots in favour of DMS boots in the late 1950s.. there is no way she was issued Ammo boots... even as a university student in the officer training corps... at that time Army recurits were required to buy their own Ammo Boots. Experance shows that Army kit only evolves during and imidiatly after a period of conflict... during a peace the millatery quickly forgets the lessons it learned and the government don't see the need to provide adequate funds.

58 pattern belts still de rigeur today, certainly with airborne forces, worn over para smocks. 58 webbing generally terrible though. Try doing it up once it gets wet. Nightmare.

I spoke to a soldier in Colchester, recruiting stand, pre Covid who moaned about some of the kit he was “issued these days” I laughed and mentioned ….Boots combat High , 58 pattern and an SLR….oh and some tinned food in your kidney pouches….not much was said afterwards!🤣 Good film.

I'm confused... Was she TA?? How about we compare what infantry got issued as well as weapon systems, and compare.that to modern day.

Интендантская служба Армии Великобритании: "Надёжно, Удобно и Нравится девушкам - словно Приобретено Мамой!" - слоган к видео. ;-)))

strange five minute segment ?

Just so long as the do not keep having 'dues out' then everything will be fine. Hopefully. Equipment shortages are nothing new in the British Army. I used to work as a military tailor and we got used to 'dues out.'

Your kit familiarization is too good because your webbing loops are upside down

Of course the idea of “uniform” is anathema to us cavalry types and we have traditionally worn our own unique to regiment ranks , jumpers, roll necks, bright coloured jerseys and cross belts. Barbours on the tank park. Whips Crops Spurs No tankcrews wear identical dress Shirts - on a tank? Never Roll necks in bright a Brunswick Green in QRIH

I joined up in 79, i cant remember wearing a soviet helmet lol

In my day, you had to make do with a Dennison Smock..!! 😉

I choose not to die for babylon.

I have a question tho pls I want to know can Nigerians fit into British army b

They were call DMS boots

She's never tabbed. Gen

wow this is cute

... and all the times I got a bollocking for 'modifying' my kit, and spent time in 'Jankers' & ROP's for being 'evolutionary and rebellious. 🤔 no wonder why I ended up as SF.... thinking outside the box was my specialty... 😉

Not very long and hardly showed the differences in kit.