"Who remembers 'FoFaD'? This ('F#ck off, fire at Donnington') was the answer you always used to get from the stackers in the early 80s whenever you went to Stores to get something. "
Gentlemen, if I may elaborate on that. Yes, the two (at least) fires at Donnington did queer the pitch a bit with a lot of the kit the Army were meant to provide, especially if you drove tanks. I suspect it was their rather quaint way of resolving stocktaking discrepancies...
There was, however, a one-man crime wave at a Hampshire helicopter base which had a devastating effect on the availability of flying clothing. The culprit was flogging all the good stuff in and around Odiham, Aldershot and at a stall at Blackbushe. He even kept a book of who bought what and when, which made for good reading at the Summary of Evidence. He got 3 and a half years for burglary but the impact of his deeds resounded for a long time afterwards, much to the frustration of our (legitimate) customers.