You just reminded me of the night that 51 Sqn's Scorpion's used para-illum on the training area and almost burned Richmond to the ground. Gandale was the camp about 6/7 miles from camp and all exercises finished with a detoured 12/14 mile gallop back to Catterick, up and down the dales and usually back via the Swale for good measure, and then bunny hops around the airfield to finish off. Steel helmets, boots of iron, Gimpys, hideous 58 pattern webbing, 'marching order' large packs.
Those were the days, no human rights.. being chucked out of bed at 0430 and being beasted around the airfield twice before breakfast was all part of the game. The budget was different then, as was the training mentality.. out of 35 or 40 or so who started, 5 finished. If you see the JROCs and TGs going through Honington now, they seem to be twice the muscle and bulk we were then. The range of kit they have to master today is vast too, certainly compared to what I had to use.