Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: princeman on November 20, 2019, 04:07:03 PM
-
In the book 'THE STORY OF THE MALAKAND FIELD FORCE' by Sir Winston Churchill, he mentions in one sentence that the British uniform now provided spine protection for the troops. Does anyone know what this was?
Thanks in advance.
Greg
-
I have seen a picture of one, presumably from the 1930's. It was a piece of clothing, red on one side, placed against the back and somehow believed to protect the gentle British physique from the tropical sun - though of no actual practical value.
I also found this article which seems to shed further light on topic:
http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/british-army-spine-pads
-
Cos nothing keeps you cool like another layer of quilting!
-
I did miles of reading about it a few years ago; found next to nothing beyond what has already been said.
-
I've little more to add, really, I think Griefbringer's link covers it nicely. I do have this image of a book I own a copy of, though, which has a picture of one on the front cover:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/42/163-201119194902.jpeg)
I wouldn't buy this book hoping to find out more about them, though. It actually has a lot less information than the link Griefbringer provided.
-
Thank you so much gentlemen! Knew I could count on this group to supply the answer. Sir Winston did not provide any clue as to what this was or what it was supposed to do. Thanks again,
Greg
-
Sir Winston did not provide any clue as to what this was or what it was supposed to do.
Perhaps at the time the concept of spine pad was considered to be common knowledge for an educated gentleman, and thus did not require further explanation?
-
Sun protection, right?
(Note, I don't know!)
-
The title made me think that there may also have been an 'upper lip stiffener' issued at some point too....
-
The title made me think that there may also have been an 'upper lip stiffener' issued at some point too....
lol
-
The title made me think that there may also have been an 'upper lip stiffener' issued at some point too....
If you put enough wax on your impressive moustache that does the job very well.
-
Good job men. Yes protection from heat and sun stroke was the goal. Not sure it had any effect though.
-
Reminds one of a cruel but remarkably apt jibe delivered in parliament by one of our former Prime Ministers to his opposite number. "He's just a shiver looking for a spine to crawl up."
@ Plynkes. Handy tome that Mike Chapell book, I have that one too.
-
The title made me think that there may also have been an 'upper lip stiffener' issued at some point too....
Not everything would be provided by the crown, and many items would be left to up to private purchase. I would assume that monocles, moustache wax and upper lip stiffener all belong to the later category.
-
Not everything would be provided by the crown, and many items would be left to up to private purchase. I would assume that monocles, moustache wax and upper lip stiffener all belong to the later category.
Though the crown did provide a batman to carry out his duties as dogsbody to the well to do lol
-
Certainly you would not expect an educated gentleman of proper breeding to distract himself with all sorts of mundane trivialities, that could be prefectly well handled by a more servile person. Thus unburdened he can focus his superior intellectual resources at duties of importance.
Also, leaving items for private purchase is not to be always taken as an indication of thriftiness on behalf of the crown. Commissioned gentleman of proper education should be trusted to pick the items of equipment and uniform most suited for him to carry out his appointed duties. However, in the case of other ranks, lacking sufficient breeding and judgement, it may be necessary for the crown to exert closer control and issue items directly.
-
Certainly you would not expect an educated gentleman of proper breeding to distract himself with all sorts of mundane trivialities, that could be prefectly well handled by a more servile person. Thus unburdened he can focus his superior intellectual resources at duties of importance.
Also, leaving items for private purchase is not to be always taken as an indication of thriftiness on behalf of the crown. Commissioned gentleman of proper education should be trusted to pick the items of equipment and uniform most suited for him to carry out his appointed duties. However, in the case of other ranks, lacking sufficient breeding and judgement, it may be necessary for the crown to exert closer control and issue items directly.
Brilliant! I imagine it reads just like a military manual (possibly from a Flashy novel) lol
-
Certainly you would not expect an educated gentleman of proper breeding to distract himself with all sorts of mundane trivialities, that could be perfectly well handled by a more servile person. Thus unburdened he can focus his superior intellectual resources at duties of importance.
Also, leaving items for private purchase is not to be always taken as an indication of thriftiness on behalf of the crown. Commissioned gentleman of proper education should be trusted to pick the items of equipment and uniform most suited for him to carry out his appointed duties. However, in the case of other ranks, lacking sufficient breeding and judgement, it may be necessary for the crown to exert closer control and issue items directly.
I'm going to use this quote in the next Cthulhu RPG adventure I run. The dilettantes will love it.
-
I'm going to use this quote in the next Cthulhu RPG adventure I run. The dilettantes will love it.
lol lol
I may have to do the same.
It is rather good, old chap.
:D
-
I'm going to use this quote in the next Cthulhu RPG adventure I run. The dilettantes will love it.
I would be most honoured to be thus quoted to the said gentleman adventurers.
Certainly a person dedicating his intellectual assets to the noble pursuit of forbidden knowledge should not be unnecessarily burdened by tasks of mundane and trivial nature, that could be perfectly well carried out by a properly trained butler or servant. Thus freed from such vulgar responsibilities, a scholar of the unknown can focus his full mental assets most productively, allowing him to concentrate on calculating non-euclidean geometries, translating ancient manuscripts penned by mad Arabs, or deciphering archeological artefacts carved by non-human hands.
-
lol lol
-
Unfortunately, it is hard to get good servants these days.
-
Depending on the death/insanity rate of said campaign, butlers and servants could also serve as interesting backup characters.