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Whenurhappy
14th Nov 2012, 15:27
Take a look at this:

Charles and Camilla visit New Zealand - National - NZ Herald Pictures (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10847365&gallery_id=129083#10093456)


One would have thought that the Gd Cdr would have had hooks fitted to his tunic to stop the belt slipping down. I can't find a link to teh footage of Charles' arrival at Auckland (Whenuapai); the Gd Cdr's sword belt was practically down by his knees at teh end of the inspection.

I know the Kiwi No 3 SD hasn't had a belt for 30-odd years, but at least the tailors could fit sword hooks for a Royal Guard of Honour? No?

or am I being picky?

LateArmLive
14th Nov 2012, 15:57
Does anyone else remember when this forum used to be about military aviation?

StopStart
14th Nov 2012, 16:11
Christ, if it's not hats it's bloody belts.

:ugh:

tutgby
14th Nov 2012, 16:17
Yawn......

Tankertrashnav
14th Nov 2012, 23:32
Does anyone else remember when this forum used to be about military aviation?

Elsewhere on this forum is a thread about a ME captain who got narked when his co-pilot pointed out he still had QFE set at a late stage on a visual approach.

I'm betting he's just the sort of bloke who also couldn't care less about looking like a sack of sh*t tied up in the middle because he's far too good a pilot to worry about that sort of rubbish.

All part of the same mindset.

Dan Winterland
15th Nov 2012, 01:01
NZ still has an Air Force?

500N
15th Nov 2012, 01:11
Whenurhappy


Do you mean this guard commander ?

Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall visit New Zealand - Xinhua | English.news.cn (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-11/14/c_131974273.htm)



Things exist like safety pins to keep equipment in place for big parades !

sisemen
15th Nov 2012, 01:45
Don't know about sword hooks but the Standard Bearer looks as though he could use a crane for support. The phrase "sack of sh*t" springs to mind!

Whenurhappy
15th Nov 2012, 06:57
500N - I hadn't seen the photo, but the video clip on the NZ Herald website was dire.

Dear PPruners,

I did post this with a degree of tongue-in-cheek in light of the 'Cap FS 'scandal' of the UK CAS', but I still thought that the turnout was a bit poor. I did a parade in 1987 (50th Anniversary of RNZAF, at Wigram) in front of Charles; the Parade Cdr and Sqn Cdrs all had hooks fitted to stop the swords from slipping; us mere flight cdrs and supernumery officers had to make do with safety pins. I dug out photos from that event (and also looked at photos in books of the presentation of the RNZAF Standard in 1953) and I don't believe that we - or our forbears - looked that shabby. And we didn't wear name tags.

Pete Stockwell* (Burgles), Grip it!

* NZ CAS/CAF - you were smartly turned out.

JFZ90
15th Nov 2012, 09:22
Elsewhere on this forum is a thread about a ME captain who got narked when his co-pilot pointed out he still had QFE set at a late stage on a visual approach.

I'm betting he's just the sort of bloke who also couldn't care less about looking like a sack of sh*t tied up in the middle because he's far too good a pilot to worry about that sort of rubbish.

All part of the same mindset.

Perhaps the same mindset as keeping 9mm armour piercing under your bed, though as to err is human I do have some sympathy in that case.

Interesting that the ME Capt/1013/F Off thread got deleted. Wonder which crew room / CO office that is now being discussed in :}

Tankertrashnav
15th Nov 2012, 15:09
Yes I was wondering that. I'm guessing that the OP deleted it having got nervous that the captain in question would get to see it/hear about it and cause even more grief for the unfortunate co-pilot.

500N
15th Nov 2012, 17:32
Whenurhappy

It would be much easier if Officers wore a Sam Browne belt or something
along those lines.

Pontius Navigator
15th Nov 2012, 19:12
500N, why?

My colonel still looked like a bag o'sh1t whether he used his web belt to keep his stomach in or a SB with a shoulder strap to hold it up!

The lack of belt clips could be that they were hard to come by, or the guard commander could not afford to have them fitted, or there was not enough time after he had been joed.

In all the No 1s I had (one new and two second hand) I never had sword clips. I never carried a sword on any parade either and my last parade I am pleased to say was 36 years ago.

500N
15th Nov 2012, 19:18
PN
Was just a suggestion as an easy way to carry a Sword.


"The lack of belt clips could be that they were hard to come by, or the guard commander could not afford to have them fitted, or there was not enough time after he had been joed."

Pretty feeble excuses if you ask me for an Officer.

Safety pins don't cost much and are the cheapest solution - and obviously used
by the RAF going by one of the previous posts.

Anyway, it's quite a few years now since I had to carry a sword
on parade and thankfully won't have to again.

Tea White Zero
16th Nov 2012, 12:56
eat more pies!!!! - 'simples'

Whenurhappy
16th Nov 2012, 14:12
The lack of belt clips could be that they were hard to come by, or the guard commander could not afford to have them fitted, or there was not enough time after he had been joed.
Just been joed for a Royal Guard of Honour? I think not! The sword hooks are brass curtain hooks sewn into the seam of the No 1 tunic. But as it was in New Zealand, brass curtain hooks are probably still on the 'rationed' list ;)

Anyway, a bit of levity...

Melchett01
16th Nov 2012, 14:23
Personally, I thought HRH looked rather dapper in his No 1s, far smarter than some of the Army uniforms.

And in any case, what's wrong with keeping 9mm bang under the bed - have you felt how uncomfortable it is to try and sleep with it under your pillow? :E

Trim Stab
16th Nov 2012, 15:14
I always think Crabs (including antipodean ones) look utterly ridiculous with swords. The RAF wasn't even invented when swords went out of service, so why do they walt around with them? If Crabs want to dress up for big occasions they should just stick to leather hats and goggles.

Melchett01
16th Nov 2012, 16:47
The RAF wasn't even invented when swords went out of service, so why do they walt around with them?

Probably the same sort of logic / justification that leads to so many random Regts walting around with spurs on their mess kit when the closest the vast majority of them have ever got to a horse is sticking £20 on the 1630 at Kempton Park.

500N
16th Nov 2012, 17:34
Trim Stab

Agree re Swords, found them a PITA to parade with but tradition dictates.

Very few do sword drill well all of the time.


* Must admit that the NZ Officer the OP was commenting on didn't do
too badly with his sword drill / saluting on the march.

Blacksheep
17th Nov 2012, 11:08
Royal GoH? GoodGrief!

"Heads Down - Shoulders Forward - Stomachs Out!"

sisemen
18th Nov 2012, 10:51
Probably the same sort of logic / justification that leads to so many random Regts walting around with spurs on their mess kit when the closest the vast majority of them have ever got to a horse is sticking £20 on the 1630 at Kempton Park.

Or the fish heads sitting down for the loyal toast in case they bump their heads on the low beams of a wooden warship :eek:

teeteringhead
18th Nov 2012, 13:07
Probably the same sort of logic / justification that leads to so many random Regts walting around with spurs on their mess kit when the closest the vast majority of them have ever got to a horse is sticking £20 on the 1630 at Kempton Park. ... or the Hairy Arm Corps formed, IIRC in 1955 .....

..... got a hard time once from a Welsh Guards half-colonel who was mocking my CFS (well it was CFS (H)) tie or woolly pully or Big Badge or something, 'til I pointed out that CFS was formed in 1912, 3 years before the Welsh Guards. :ok:

And who says there's no point in knowing Military History ...... :E

Trim Stab
18th Nov 2012, 13:47
Quote:
Probably the same sort of logic / justification that leads to so many random Regts walting around with spurs on their mess kit when the closest the vast majority of them have ever got to a horse is sticking £20 on the 1630 at Kempton Park.




Only cavalry regiments wear spurs on their mess kits, and only regiments who were once issued with swords carry them.

Crabs just look daft prancing around with swords trying to emulate the cavalry. Swords are not part of their heritage. If crabs want to dress up then they should stick to their own heritage and wear leather hats and goggles.

Samuel
18th Nov 2012, 13:58
In defence of "sacks of ****" I should point out that the RNZAF does not have any specialised pomp and bull**** airmen, such as the Queens' Flight or the RAF Regiment..whatever, so all such parades are drawn from working tradesmen and women who undoubtedly would rather be elsewhere!

I also note that the correct shoulder flash is "Royal New Zealand Air Force" in full, and not "New Zealand" as worn by Charles.

Anyway....You should all think yourselves lucky we see some relevance in the the Royals at all.....;) bloody hell, even the Skippies were kow-towing!

Samuel
18th Nov 2012, 14:30
NZ still has an Air Force? Fortunately, yes, otherwise all those redundant RAF types wouldn't have anywhere to go....:p The RNZAF also, it should be pointed out, has six more MPA than the RAF currently .....;)

tmmorris
18th Nov 2012, 17:38
Only cavalry regiments wear spurs on their mess kits

Not true, so do officers in the RE as (I am told) RE officers used to ride around encouraging the sappers to do some work...

Tim

cuefaye
18th Nov 2012, 17:47
Sword Hooks - what a load of pr**ks you are.

teeteringhead
18th Nov 2012, 20:15
Only cavalry regiments wear spurs on their mess kits ... and, as I kind of hinted earlier, so do the AAC.

Edited to add: Good lunchtime session was it, cuefaye?

cuefaye
18th Nov 2012, 20:30
Don't touch it these days - maybe I should so that I could better share your nonsense