Survival kits

  The other day while looking for something I came across my old survival kits, I've mentioned them before I seem to remember.  Looking through the contents made me wonder if with the world going to hell maybe carrying one would be a good idea again?

 Back in the day a survival tin was a fairly normal part of the soldiers kit.  Mostly a tobacco tin housed a set of contents.  These were usually from a so-called official list, this of course varied, depending on what unit you were from and who was teaching the course.

 Most courses were run as part of Eand E (escape and evasion) and were standard for military personal who were classed as "prone to capture"  That meant troops in, near or in front of the front line. Aircrew, forward artillery observers, commandos, special forces etc etc.  Although any military personal could take the courses.

 The tobacco tin was a bit like that game where you put as many objects as you can in a match box, the idea being in this case though to have vital items to help you stay alive in an emergency.

 Common items were matches, a compass a candle (more for lighting fires than light) a flint and steel (again for fires) water purification tablets, a blade or small knife, and fishing kit (short bit of line and a few hooks and lead shot for weights) and some cord, a wire saw and a condom for carrying water.  These items were pretty much standard, but many went much further.

 The SAS actually had a special belt pouch for the survival kit, it went on your webbing designed to carry the kit and a few other things could be crammed in.  Purse nets were a popular addition, these are small nets handy for catching rabbits and fish, snares (often on the "official" list were also handy.  Many would carry a space blanket for a poor mans shelter, and para cord was the string of choice, strong and you can take out the inner strands for thinner cord if needed.

 Also a silk escape map would be hidden on the person and many carried a wire saw threaded into the waistband of the trousers, button compass would be hidden too, there was even a button that turned into a compass, but I never had one of those... sadly...

 So is it worth carrying a kit now?  Well with who knows what war may bring maybe time to think about it.  I still have a sealed fully kitted out tin and pouch, although I'd skip the purse nets and carry a special forces bivi bag and jungle sleeping bag instead, these both fold up small and light and will keep you dry and while not as cosy as a warm bed at least you'll be a bloody sight warmer than lying under a headge with a space blanket flapping around in the wind.

 In fact I might knock up a modern version of the kit (I have all the stuff) and post pics here if anybody is interested???