New RAF Uniform
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Wasn’t there a trial in the early 70’s of light blue to replace the original KD. Thankfully they settled on ‘stone’, which is what I was issued with when posted to RAF Gan.
There was a slightly later trial, I heard.....which included blue suede bondhu boots!
Stone won the day!
Did anyone actually spend their 'KD allowance" on KD??
Stone won the day!
Did anyone actually spend their 'KD allowance" on KD??
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Stone that rapidly changed colour when working on aircraft never to look the same again.
Yes Beagle, I spent my KD allowance on KD, however, as I had several 'KD wearing posts' one after the other, I quickly found that I needed to dip into my own pocket. I made a mistake of buying some KD in UK before my first trip and arriving in it. At HQFEAF, I was introduced to a charming (much older WRAF) officer, who was told to take me to Changi Village and get some real stuff sorted. In my third jaunt I acquired a No: 6 - the smartest piece of kit the RAF ever had IMHO. The downside was that I was then promptly appointed O i/c the station Guard of Honour.
Being of 'modest stature - alright, I'm a shortarse' - I was given my jungle greens by a friendly Ghurkha officer (2nd/7th GR in those days) and for many years, all my RAF kit came from Au Wai Lam, the station tailor at Kai Tak. My big regret was that I never got a 'genuine' Bates SD hat.
Old Duffer
Being of 'modest stature - alright, I'm a shortarse' - I was given my jungle greens by a friendly Ghurkha officer (2nd/7th GR in those days) and for many years, all my RAF kit came from Au Wai Lam, the station tailor at Kai Tak. My big regret was that I never got a 'genuine' Bates SD hat.
Old Duffer
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Not to mention the endless variations of shade and colour, depending o the original source. I remember a colleague at Tengah who had HK-made KD that had faded to almost white over time. My Tengah Village stuff retained a very light brown hue . Like the Army, very few of us seemed to wear the same colour/
Avoid imitations
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Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
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Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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I’m too young to have been given a KD allowance. We got issued with KD on arrival at Airport Camp in Belize, but you had to be very careful which “Clothing Store” door you tried to open…... those who went there will know why.
(I don’t think I ever actually wore any KD though. I’ve still got some in the loft, over forty plus years later. It never fitted me then, no chance now!)
Same age, near enough, as me Shy - and I had the allowance for my stint in HK. I can vouch that the Au Wai Lam No.6 was the smartest thing I ever wore in the service of HM - smart being a relative term in my case, of course.
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None of this of about those no longer serving. It's about those just in and those who will be in through the next 20 years while the old and bold are being eaten by worms.
Yeah, there's history. And that's written in books. It needs to be remembered, it doesn't need to be relived.