Prince Harry takes a Gerber to war.

Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor

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Jul 17, 2005
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albeit a multitool. Bought a lot of other kit too.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news2.shtml

Exclusive: Prince buys his own kit

HARRY PAYS TO GO TO WAR

By Ryan Sabey

PRINCE Harry has had to spend more than £1,000 on extra kit for duty in Iraq in a damning indictment of the funding of British forces.

The 22-year-old royal — third in line to the throne — bought at least TEN items considered vital for his tour in war-torn Maysan province in May.

But scores of junior-ranking troops in Harry's Blues and Royals regiment have complained they simply cannot afford the equipment.

Many earn less than £16,000-a-year.

Poor or missing kit has blighted the Iraq campaign despite repeated government promises of help.

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In March 2003 Sgt Steve Roberts, 33, was shot dead at an Iraqi checkpoint after being ordered to give his body armour to a colleague judged to be at greater risk days earlier.

Six Red Caps were killed by a mob when they were sent 12 miles from base with communications equipment that could only reach nine miles.

Harry's self-bought kit includes a lightweight Para helmet costing £225, far more comfortable than normal Army-issue, and £70 for some specialist goggles.

The prince has also spent more than £300 on three pairs of boots — troops say standard issue footwear simply isn't good enough. He paid £110 for a pair of Lowas, £125 on waterproof jungle boots and £70 on Magnum desert boots.

The prince has also spent £140 on a Global Positioning System so he can pinpoint exactly where he is on the Iraq-Iran border.

Along with many others in his troop he has forked out £80 on a quality sleeping bag.

Harry also bought £30 Helly Hansen long-johns for the cold nights.

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Less expensive items include extra webbing to hold equipment like drinks bottles and a Gerber knife, both cost £20.

Harry will be in charge of 11 men patrolling an area populated by Iranian-backed Shia Muslim extremists loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The unit will carry out long-range desert patrols.

A source said: "The squaddies have been saying for a long time that they don't get any help paying for equipment. It's a case of having the right kit for the job.

"There's no resentment towards Harry. It just shows how standard Army equipment isn't up to scratch."
 
The most expensive item was the helmet. And it appears he bought that due to personal preference, not because the British army doesn't supply helmets.

And I wonder if he really 'needed' three pairs of expensive boots, or if one pair would have sufficed.

Military pay sucks, that's for sure, as in the US Army as well. But they also receive a lifetime's supply of benefits, housing and food, and hiring/educational preferences. Compensation on par with those things cannot be found in the private sector.

-Bob
 
I don't know about the Brits, but most of the stuff that I've been issued even as an undeployed National Guard infantryman works quite well.
 
Gerber?! We should send him an engraved Victorinox Spirit!

"GET 'EM HARRY! Bladeforums.com"
 
Who cares about that over-paid under taxed British Royal Family! He could afford to kit out a whole regiment if he wanted and never notice the cost.
The other fact is that he will never be put anywhere in Iraq that is even remotely dangerous! Just like all his idle witless family before him in the Falklands, WW2 and WW1. I didn't notice an extra large canteen needed to cater for the little drunk's appetite for booze....
 
willgoy said:
1. Who cares about that over-paid under taxed British Royal Family!

2. The other fact is that he will never be put anywhere in Iraq that is even remotely dangerous!

3. Just like all his idle witless family before him in the Falklands, WW2 and WW1.
Click to expand...

1. "...the taxpayer contributes £36.7 million to the running of the British monarchy. A decrease in real terms, this is equivalent to around 61 pence per person each year..."

http://www.4ni.co.uk/news.asp?id=41777

(As you are American, I'll point out that that is roughly $1.20)

2. "Cornet Wales" will command a troop of 4 Scimitar tanks in southern Iraq. If you think that that is "not remotely dangerous", your perception is... somewhat skewed.

3. Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew, flew a combat helicopter in the Falklands war.

Harry's father, Prince Charles, commanded the Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Bronington.

Harry's grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and served throughout the war:

"In 1940 he served on HMS Ramilles in Colombo, Ceylon, as a Midshipman, patrolling the Indian Ocean and escorting troops from Australia to the Middle East. In 1941 he was transferred to HMS Valiant, a battleship stationed in Alexandria, Egypt. Philip acted as the searchlight control on the ship, helping to sink two Italian cruisers. Later service in the war saw Philip promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and serving during the invasion of Sicily. Philip was also present onboard HMS Whelp at the surrender of Japanese forces in Tokyo Bay."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh#Naval_career

Perhaps you would care to detail your military/public service, and explain how it entitles you to make snide pronouncements on matters concerning which you seem to be lamentably ill-informed?

maximus otter
 
mete said:
What do the Brits know ??? That's a multi-tool not a knife !
Click to expand...

I dunno, they must know something though.
Their track record in battle and wars is better than average.
Looking back they have had their share of practice over the Centuries. Many times not with dominant numbers or advantage.
 
Danno4017 said:
I dunno, they must know something though.
Their track record in battle and wars is better than average.
Looking back they have had their share of practice over the Centuries. Many times not with dominant numbers or advantage.
Click to expand...

Zuuuuluuuuuuu! Zuuuuuluuuuuu!
 
maximus otter said:
1. "...the taxpayer contributes £36.7 million to the running of the British monarchy. A decrease in real terms, this is equivalent to around 61 pence per person each year..."

http://www.4ni.co.uk/news.asp?id=41777

(As you are American, I'll point out that that is roughly $1.20)

2. "Cornet Wales" will command a troop of 4 Scimitar tanks in southern Iraq. If you think that that is "not remotely dangerous", your perception is... somewhat skewed.

3. Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew, flew a combat helicopter in the Falklands war.

Harry's father, Prince Charles, commanded the Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Bronington.

Harry's grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and served throughout the war:

"In 1940 he served on HMS Ramilles in Colombo, Ceylon, as a Midshipman, patrolling the Indian Ocean and escorting troops from Australia to the Middle East. In 1941 he was transferred to HMS Valiant, a battleship stationed in Alexandria, Egypt. Philip acted as the searchlight control on the ship, helping to sink two Italian cruisers. Later service in the war saw Philip promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and serving during the invasion of Sicily. Philip was also present onboard HMS Whelp at the surrender of Japanese forces in Tokyo Bay."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh#Naval_career

Perhaps you would care to detail your military/public service, and explain how it entitles you to make snide pronouncements on matters concerning which you seem to be lamentably ill-informed?

maximus otter
Click to expand...

Ill-informed? That's a laugh! No I am NOT an American (is that equated with being ill-informed then?)and I studied Modern History at the University of Oxford. My father, volunteer R.E. 1941-46 D-Day landings, his brother R.A. My mother's brothers 8th Army N.Africa. 2 blood relatives perished in the siege of Leningrad. 2 served on the Western Front 1915-18 another in the Merchant Navy. I could go on but you are obviously one of those types in absolute awe of those with titles, the accidents of birth who are the over privileged and irrelevant British royal family..Sitting on bridges watching the Japanese surrender,is THAT how he(Philip,I see you are on 1st name terms, odd for a butler) got all those medals, whilst Mountbatten was single-handedly winning the war in Asia? Ah of course it was!

As for the latest warrior,the ginger haired drunk who is heading for Iraq, well if he is commanding any tanks then you can be SURE they are miles away from any insurgent. Just like the Prince of Wales who abdicated-Edward VIII-spent his time in nice shiny uniforms far away from any smelly corpses or German bullets in the Great War. If any of them got even slightly wounded, gassed,shell-shocked or dead then I will retract my words. Until then I'll leave the cheer-leading and the Upstairs Downstairs fawning over these accidents of birth to you:barf: :barf: The Americans threw off the yoke of monarchy and the French went one stage better by guillotining them, that's apt for a blade discussion forum:thumbup:
 
Y'know, this kid is going into service like many of us did; naïve, young and maybe not completely in touch with hard reality. The service has a way of waking a young man up and making a grown man out of him. Wouldn't it be something if, after a little seasoning, this kid turned out to be an ass-kicking soldier?
 
Being a Brit, the poor guy probably isn't allowed to carry a real knife with a genuine blade and all...
 
Harry's doing more than a lot of American "royalty" just by being there, even if he's in a concrete bunker a hundred meters underground. Last time I checked, there weren't many American congressmen or politicians who had relatives deployed. I haven't seen any specs on defense industries who are profiting from the war.

Anyway, back to blades. We should send him a Spyderco Military.


Edit - my apologies for the thread-drift
 
marthinus said:
Have to agree. Poor harry. Should have rather taken a good swiss army knife than a gerber.
Click to expand...
Gerber brand multitools are extremely common in US ranks. Gerber as a name works the same as Jell-o, Xerox, or Kleenex. If somebody needed a tool, they asked if someone had a gerber.
 
I'm a huge fan of the Gerber multi tools. Their design, ergonomics, reliability, and general usefulness is unrivaled in my experience (though the newer leatherman multi-tools are looking very nice). The problem is that they have blatantly stolen designs, so it would have been nice to see a famous figure support honest companies.

As far as Harry goes- good for him. :thumbup:
 
Good on him. As a few have said, at least he is doing something, he was not forced into the army. And as for buying kit, so what, I don't know a single soldier that does not buy some for of extra kit.
 
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