At a small transport base in Southern England, those pilots departing for warmer climes were instructed to report to the guardroom to draw and sign for their gun - sorry, weapon - and 6 bullets - sorry, rounds. On landing at various warm airfields, we were often encouraged by the Army to carry out target practice on their ranges and to scoop up replacement bullets - sorry, rounds - in whatever quantities we required. When about to repatriate to Blighty, it was traditional to poop off ones bullets - sorry, rounds - at a suitable target somewhere in case one was diverted to somewhere in Southern England whose welcome committee might not appreciate the presence of guns - sorry, weapons - and live bullets - sorry, rounds - despite the Government of the day passing legislation to authorise this activity.
A particular RN aviator had diligently disposed of his ammunition before returning to said small base in Southern England. His presence was required at the Guardroom to sign in his gun; having done so, he was asked for the return of his 6x9mm rounds. "I've fired them", he replied. This precipitated great consternation among the Admin and Regiment "jam stealers" in the small transport base in Southern England, but eventually they realised that, although not the case in UK, we had been fighting a live ammo war in a warmer place and were fully entitled to have discharged our weapons in pursuit of peace, but it took a while!
cheers
mcdhu