L42A1 transit chest mystery markings

[Peter Laidler]

The UIN relates generally to the unit - as in Unit Identity Number as in A01234-A as CM says above but not to the L42. I have never heard of a rifle as being a B item because many stores items are classed as B items in accordance to their Stores Identifiers. Small arms were generally known as WOCS and later as SSR and always marked on the big green air movement labels as a big star indicating a 'STARRED ITEM' which any ex crunchie will have nightmares about loosing! I can't think of an answer to the 5/7 unless there was a 5th Brigade somewhere......... I can't recall one!

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[Thunderbox]

I can't think of an answer to the 5/7 unless there was a 5th Brigade somewhere......... I can't recall one!

It is (or was) a 5 Airborne Brigade unit. I can't remember who 5/7 was (pretty sure it was a Para bn), but my own unit was 5/14 at that time.

[gundoc2112]

It is (or was) a 5 Airborne Brigade unit. I can't remember who 5/7 was (pretty sure it was a Para bn), but my own unit was 5/14 at that time.

I'm of the mind that 5/7 is some kind of embark code. Both Chosenman's and mine have the marking and are both from 10th GR SP Coy. In searching through the archives of this site, I also came across a photo of a chest reading 22SAS that also bears the 5/7 marking.

[Thunderbox]

I'm of the mind that 5/7 is some kind of embark code. Both Chosenman's and mine have the marking and are both from 10th GR SP Coy. In searching through the archives of this site, I also came across a photo of a chest reading 22SAS that also bears the 5/7 marking.

Yes, they were mainly used as movement manifest codes (part of the chalk codes). All vehicles, boxed stores and large equipments carried the mark. 5 Airborne Brigade applied these marks even to personal kit, because of the particular need to sort out stuff on a parachute DZ - e.g. my own Bergans from that era carry my regimental DZ flash, plus the 5/14 chalk code (both permanently painted).

However, I'm pretty sure they were uniquely allocated to specific units, rather than any sort of formation-level organisation that might account for shared usage. I.e. if 5/7 has clearly been linked to 10th GR, then that must have been its 5 AB Bde code (Edit: both 10 GR and 7 GR both formed part of 5 AB Bde OOB at some point). I'm not sure why a 22 SAS item should carry another unit's code in this case, unless they are simply from different issue dates and not removed, or if 10 GR was acting as "parent unit" for the purpose of shipping stores for a major overseas exercise or similar. Unlikely for the SAS to be parented, but it did often happen with other "atts and dets" - non-formation units coming under administration for the exercise or operational deployment.