Wanted: CF issue Melmac plate/bowl/mug, Cold War Kit

[Scott Bentley]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Everyone of course asked, 'where does it fit on the webbing?'

In the dark days of the mid 90s, I recall coming back to my PMQ on a Friday night after a lengthy fall exercise in the Petawawa Training Area. I unceremoniously biffed the contents of my rucksack on the basement floor with the intent of washing and repacking it at some point over the weekend like a good sapper. With a week of low intensity garrison activities planned for the following Monday, I said screw it and left it till later.

Predictably in-line with Murphy's Law, the "Bugout" fanout phone call came in at approx 2:30am on Monday morning. In sheer panic, I began stuffing all of the dirty kit back in my rucksack. I didn't really follow a kit list per say in that moment of terror when you know you are doomed, but I did recall wondering what the hell I did with my melmac plate. With kit that "looked" properly packed, I set off to my regiment like everyone else in 2 CMBG.

This bugout saw the 2 CMBG Commander coming around to all of the Units individually to complete a readiness check. This involved us lining up all of our vehicles for inspection. As I was a member of a field section at the time, we had the entire contents of our M113 pioneer dozer laid out neatly on the ground, and we ourselves were formed up as a section in front of our "Agony Wagon" dressed in full fighting order with gas masks slung.

As the Brigade Commander made his way from section to section and sapper to sapper, he would ask each soldier to present him with a random piece of their personal kit (bayonet, rifle, KFS etc) for him to personally inspect for cleanliness. When he got to me, he (worth noting that "he" was none other than Rick Hillier) asked me to present him my gas mask. Not wanting to disappoint, I tugged open my gas mask carrier as though nerve gas was detected, reached in and pulled out my gas mask with authority and held it out to the Brigade Commander (Rick). Concurrent to my well executed gas mask drill, my congealed grease covered melmac plate came flying out of my gas mask carrier, bounced a few times on the tarmac and then proceeded to that thing like most disc-like objects do when dropped, where it went around and around and around for what seemed like an eternity before finally coming to a stop at the feet of my RSM....... I'm still scarred from the punishment I received for that one!

To answer the age old question; it fit neatly into your Gas Mask Carrier