UN / Canada / Cyprus beginings

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

I have also just found this, 8th Hussars in Germany.

Robin,

Where and when for this photograph? It looks like it came from a copy of the Canadian Army Journal.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Robin Craig]

The photo comes via a circuitous route, was published in the Beaver if I recall correctly.

2Lt Peck is sill alive and is going to be asked by a friend if he recalls anything.

Film at 11 or whenever.

Rob, I love it when people prove the exception to the rule.

I wont say anything about a fully Orange coloured Leopard tank as people will say it never happened.

R

[Ed Storey]

The military is rife with exceptions to the rule which is interesting as it is an occupation based on rules. Exceptions are interesting and should be documented, but the key is not to dwell on them. By dwelling on them, too many people believe that the exceptions are the nom rather than what they are which is anomalies in a very large organization.

[chris vickery]

Further to your last Ed, I would expect that "exceptions" were somewhat ignored rather than documented, in light of happening in such an organization rife with rules...kinda like the ostrich head in the sand?

[rob love]

Exceptions are not usually ignored. In recent years the DND even came out with a canforgen that un-authorised modifications to equipment would not be acceptable.

It was when the Iltis came out that Ottawa dictated that there were to be no field modifications including things like mapboards, map lights etc. There was to be no drilling of holes in the vehicle for anything unless it was for an authorized modification.

All that said, the strict rules sort of went sideways during Afghanistan. The LCMMs were very accommodating to the needs of the troops on the ground. Some unit procurements were accepted (like Eotech and ACOG scopes that were not in our system) which never would have flown before. But even then, vehicle modification teams would come either from the contractors who were in theater, or else teams that were sent from Canada. Modifications were not "ad-hoc".

[45jim]

The rifle range at the Nicosia airport had two Ferret turrets sitting on the side all shot up. I was taken to see them while on exchange with Scout Car SQN of the 16/5th Lancers in '88, but I don't have a photo. We enjoyed bombing up and down the runway doing Ferret drag races and trying to drive around the go-kart track in the Ferret (much fun!). They had UN Markings but were UK European camouflage.

I know it doesn't answer your question directly but it shows there were spares on the Island and all we would have had to do is ask for them. The Brits were quite obliging that way.