Something for Peter Laidler...and a few others...

[Merle]

Well now, that was interesting!

[enfield303t]

Great fun and although Clarkson can be a Royal PITA the show was always entertaining. I remember that episode well, the car was nice, the guns were better.

[villiers]

My partial deafness is DEFINITELY due to lack of ear protection in an age .... when there just wasn´t any. Not that I care that amount about what happens to a silly b*gger like Clarkson.

[Gil Boyd]

For one of those who served his country when ear defenders were never issued, I can tell you, its alright being macho about these things when you are a young soldier, but when you reach a certain age, you wish you had taken "reasonable" steps to safe guard something as precious as your hearing.
The SLR was a very unforgiving rifle in many respects, but with its distinct ring after a round had been fired, especially by those inconsiderate b****** close to you, it has had its toll.
I remember lads on the mortars just placing their hands over their ears everytime they fired too, these lads who I see often have to have so much repeated or shouted more loudly to be heard. Even in their 50's/60's the macho bit comes out and they don't want to wear the hearing aids on offer today to compensate

[Beerhunter]

'Er indoors made me go to a hearing aid shop about two years ago because I have the TV too loud. I was shocked by their findings. So much so I skedaddled down to the NHS for some free hearing aids. (You can get the same stuff that the shops charge two grand for free on the NHS.) Both hearing tests confirmed that I am not suffering from age-related loss of hearing but rather damaged hearing. Both practitioners asked if I had had been subjected to loud noises in the past. I said I had been shooting rifles from the age of twelve, followed up by all sorts of other very bangy guns, without hearing protection (I do now) they both replied that that would do it.

BTW, I do recommend that everyone in my position go to their doctor for referral to the local hearing clinic. The modern, computer configured kit is fantastic.

[Gil Boyd]

Say again all after "Er Indoors"
Agree about the tests, someone was telling me that there is a one off payment for ALL servicemen with identified damaged hearing during a certain period of service in the early 70's when ear defenders were not issued, just havne't bothered to pursue it yet.

[Beerhunter]

A mate of mine tried to get compensation from the government ages back but was fobbed off. I'll ask him if he has tried recently.

It's funny that you used voice procedure Gil. Wearing a headset all day is probably another sources of trouble.

[Peter Laidler]

I remember our FIRST ear defending 'things' were little pink rubberised plastic thinggies that you pushed into your ears. That was 1967/8. We all had to go to the main dining hall in Malaya and the MO, another Nasho, wrote S M or L on our hand and sent us over to a table where we were given a set of these 'things' Apparently one of his medic assistant told us that our Small, Medium or Large ear canal size was reflected in our pen15 size...... It's true too as Lauri Taggarts wife told me at a boozy party later. He was issued with two pillows instead of the 'things'

Anyway, if you pushed this pink thinggy into your ear just a bit toooo far you couldn't pull the little tag to get it out. So the Armourers snipe nose pliers were always in use on the ranges. Especially with the Mortar and 3.5 rocket launcher crews as the blast - so said - would push the 'things' deeper in your ears

[browningautorifle]

I was among the first issued with ear plugs in 1974. Before my time nothing was issued. Still headsets on squelch, armored vehicle use, mortar platoon, the .84, house clearing with pyro...shall I go on? I've been identified with hearing damage be VA, but since I don't need hearing aids, I get nothing...nice...

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
You are not far wrong there it was 1971 when we first saw them in NI and only at Ballykinler when we went to zero weapons on the odd occasion!!!, and I think there was still the macho attitude to them then "who needs them".

As Peter says they were very basic and more of an incumberance then of use in a small plastic tube. No doubt, the price of them must surely equate to the plastic L42A1 bottle by now if you find one laying around