Originally Posted by
brakedwell
Discharging in the bar!
I was enjoying a cool KEO in the Nicosia OM bar in 1958 when the station MO shot his little toe off, but they didn't court martial him! We had all been issued with Smith and Wesson .38 revolvers and five rounds of ammunition, but due to the numbers involved there were no holsters and belts available. We either stuck our weapons down the front of our trousers like a bunch of pirates or shoved them in a trouser pocket. However SSO's did say bullets had to removed when on the station. The MO didn't and was fingering the revolver in his trouser pocket when he accidentally pulled the trigger. There was a hell of a bang and half of 54F Squadron wet their knickers, according to us truckers!
Every Met. man [Brit] posted in during the EOKA thing was also thus issued. I arrived on 1st April 1961 [Yes, really] and was the first NOT to be lumbered. The authorities knew a thing or two.