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1980's british Rations

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:38 am
by Garron
Hey Guys

Back story

In the UK during the Cold War we had somthing called the Royal Observer Corps, thier job was if war ever broke out to report nuclear blasts and fallout to the government.

They built small bunkers all over the UK, from the North of Scotland to south of England, normally on high points with good views, there was enough room for about 2 people with bunk beds and toilets, pretty much everything you would need to survive for a while.
They were decomissioned in the early 1990's, some will all contents intact, pretty much like a time capusle, with empty cans of coke and RATIONS!!!!!

Sorry about the limited pics but I didn't take them, had I have there would have been a full set and even a taste test.

I would think theres are the 2 man ration packs as the tins are quite large

Hope you like

Gaz

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:50 am
by housil
Nice background - great pic“s!! :D

Back in WWII, they had pillboxes, so I guess old English tradition :wink:

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:55 am
by Baldy
Great stuff! It really is like a time capsule.

There's a full record of all the ROC posts here: http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/roc/index2.shtml

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:07 am
by Treesuit
Wow,

Those cans in the boxes still look like their in pretty good shape. Looks like there was enough food.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:14 am
by Stef
Treesuit wrote:Wow,

Those cans in the boxes still look like their in pretty good shape. Looks like there was enough food.
Yes, let's send Norge and Kato to eat them and give us their feedback! 8)

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:29 am
by Garron
Had I have been there I would have emptied as much as I could into a rucksack and done a full review, sadly all the bunkers near me are in a shocking state and have been wrecked by children, so no chance of finding anything like that.

his one was preserved as it was close to a farmers garden, after they were decommissioned the land became his, so he's been maintaining it.

I think this is a 2-3 man 1 day pack.

Gaz

Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:46 am
by kman
That's pretty cool stuff, Gaz! Thanks for the pics!

Re: 1980's british Rations

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:35 pm
by Garron
Heres a PDF file of a scan from an old British army magazine from the 1980's about the 'New' boil in the bag rations being developed. Also the 'NEW' SA80 assault rifle. :D

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk/flashb ... es/905.pdf
Copyright Solider Magazine MOD.

Another from the 1950's being developed the Ones previously pictured in the photos attached from the bunkers.
http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk/flashb ... es/076.pdf
Copyright Solider Magazine MOD.

Also just for the fun of it,

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk/flashb ... es/205.pdf

Honest John Missile, this is what my Grandfather was armed with during his time in the army, based in Germany for a number of years. How many people can say a member of family was incharge of a weapon capable of launching a nuclear bomb :shock: :D

Chances are my grandfather was one of the soliders in that pic as I think 24 Missle reg was his old regiment.

Gaz

Re: 1980's british Rations

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:29 pm
by kman
Pretty cool articles, Garron - thanks!