There was a British soldier who had been seen by an officer heading to Dunkirk with two bren guns, the straps of which had dug down to the bones of his shoulders. When the officer tried to take these guns, the man refused, saying his dying major had told him to take them back to Britain where they would be needed. The officer put some whiskey in the man’s tea, some dressings and pads on his shoulders, and he kept walking

@mariuscatalin5982

Жыл бұрын

Based

@arrosoir4544

Жыл бұрын

Hey would love the source of that to learn more!

@amadonbeanz9631

Жыл бұрын

@@arrosoir4544 same sounds interesting

@urielmartinez2161

Жыл бұрын

Source?

@baer0083

Жыл бұрын

just another legend.

Need this after carrying the whole team on my shoudlers in every goddamn multiplayer games.

@CMDRFandragon

Жыл бұрын

LOL, SAAAAAAME! I also need another bandolier for the bottles and diapers my teams always need.

@marianonoriel3397

Жыл бұрын

What a stud

@KonradvonHotzendorf

Жыл бұрын

Your the unknown liability 🎉

@SorenPrime

Жыл бұрын

Maybe get a better team home slice if you carry à team it's not a team just a cluster fuck of confusion running a map

@jero37

Жыл бұрын

That would be a fun thing to include in a game if your statistics regularly indicate you carrying your team as a cosmetic piece.

It is really cool to see and understand how these specific pieces of gear work together in the life in the war we already know

@TheScandoman

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, but I think he put them on backwards!

@sarpms3593

11 ай бұрын

Tactical bra

@c5dynomite

11 ай бұрын

@@TheScandoman I don't think there is a "backwards". as long as its covering the spot you're holding stuff on then it's doing its job. You can see a fair few of the photos have them front to back even.

@TheScandoman

11 ай бұрын

@@c5dynomite Yes, well, who knows who in the world designed it, and whether they really ever carried stuff... I suppose it's a situational need to begin with: you aren't going to stand inspection with this on...I think the pictures show guys wearing them in at least 3 different ways, but if you look at how guys are carrying stuff, the way thus guy throws it on isn't going to help many of those guys.

@ruthparker1140

10 ай бұрын

("Sgt.J."). I, don't Recall Anygear of that nature. Our Morter Platoon didn't have those. AND... When did they Start issuing KNEE PADS!? I, Saw them on the News. 📺 And, Saw them on Short Clips Here.😠 Ever Ran with a "60". Or, M-243? Slip and, Fall on a M-113 A1. A few years Later The A-2. My knees Dont Like That! People Slip on Bradley ramps too. They waited till I, Got out to Issue Fricken Padding.... Figures. 🤨

British soldiers in the 1890s sometimes even had something very similar except it was worn over their spine to relieve the pressure on their backs!

@PMC_Wanker_Group

Жыл бұрын

Putting a pad on your back isnt gonna relieve the pressure its just gonna make it a bit more comfortable

@thehistoadian

11 ай бұрын

@@PMC_Wanker_Group Definition of relieve: "Cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious."

@ruthparker1140

10 ай бұрын

("Sgt.J.") "On Behalf of my ancestors whom helped In The revolutionary War 1770's. And, 1780's @#$! The Brits. What did they put on their Bums? 2023... Oh, Good For them. Lol.

@derth9230

8 ай бұрын

​@@PMC_Wanker_Groupthat's what relieving is...

Any bit of a morale boost is a good thing in my opinion and making your soldiers comfortable as possible does make things better.

At first I thought they were supposed to protect your family jewels

@ee-ye8sn

Жыл бұрын

Same!

@jaffa3717

10 ай бұрын

I thought they'd be armour pads to protect your heart and stomach from bullets

@KaoTicNiko

5 ай бұрын

It’s funny because the absolute courage to take up arms and continue the fight takes balls

@Hansonov15

Ай бұрын

Same

As a former MG3 machine gunner for the German Bundeswehr i can tell that the manufacturer thought of that. The back of the feeding lid was formed nicely to fit on a shoulder - you just had to turn the gun upside down.

@graysun9108

5 ай бұрын

But they didn´t thought on anything with the carry strap

The more comfortable and fit you are as a soldier the better. Happy soldiers are good. Especially when things get messy and tiring.

@ruthparker1140

10 ай бұрын

("Sgt.J ") says: "yeah..?" Lol

Yeah totally! Just imagine what huge amounts of resources must have been used up just to produce a hundred thousand of these. It shows that the US really could be generous with its industry at the time and that the us army went the extra mile for its men. Wich in return made the men more confident in that their problems are heard. It’s the little things that count.

@crushbent

Жыл бұрын

government? extra mile for its men? 😂😂😂 everything is made by the lowest bidder

@pmzr

Жыл бұрын

@@crushbent Sure sure, whatever you say basement dweller.

@scottjurrjens8954

Жыл бұрын

​@@crushbentstill wouldnt see somthing like this being mass produced for soviet soldiers.

@PMC_Wanker_Group

Жыл бұрын

Tell that to the men who were deployed with no rations

@noble6339

Жыл бұрын

@@crushbent the Sherman was not made for the lowest bidder and its designing was actually pretty expensive

And some people call those who use these "soft". The last thing a soldier needs is avoidable injuries.

It amazes me how I was a Marine Infantryman who served 60 years after that invention was used and we didn’t have anything like that. I was once in the weapons company of a LAR BN and we did a ruck March with all the companies heavy weapons including all the components of the TOW system and out 81 mm mortar tubes and baseplates and such and heavy and medium machine guns. I would have loved that. We just each had standard issue green towels that we would wrap around the machine guns or sharp metal. It was one of the most miserable rucks I ever did. Vehicle appreciation. The old MGS box for the TOW system is like a gigantic metal box with a handle and the only readable way to carry it it is with a pole and sling under two men. We weren't smart enough to do that so we just carried it like a suitcase and traded it off every hundered yards to someone with a lighter component like the mortar sight box or a Heavy machine gun bsrrel.

Those little things that make a soldiers live just a little bit easier are probably the most loved items among those who get to use them.

They really should’ve kept issuing those. I would last forever during runs if I had one.

I’m a machinegunner, that looks reallly helpful. Often my arms would fall asleep while carrying the gun for long distances, sometimes to the point where it goes limp, but I can’t stop so it just flops around while I keep going

@nickhaynie5980

Жыл бұрын

I know I could have used that thing back in 02-06

Can we bring those back? That would have been nice to have.

That’s not only about comfort, it’s about combat readiness and effectiveness. Pulled muscles and fatigue do not help in a fight. Also, I would love to have one of those around on a construction site.

You learn something new everyday. I never knew they had those shoulder pads. You never see them in TV shows or movies.

My friend, Sergeant Joe Potter, used a towel to pad his M1919A4 because when he deployed from California to the Aleutians during the summer of 1942 there was no shoulder pads issued yet. At least not to him.

Our army still using that kind of shoulder pad till this day, mostly for artillery crew because they have to carry a wooden box containing two 122mm round from the truck to their artillery emplacement.

man the title makes you feel like it's going to. be clickbait but this guy always delivers some good shit

81mm mortarman in Korea, 9th Infantry Regiment and I have hauled the baseplate and the barrel for miles and also the bipod. The 81mm bipod was the heaviest part, none of it was light. Looks nice, hell I never saw that pad. Would have been nice. We also wrapped the barrel in the canvas pouch for the aiming stakes. I did see that.

Working in construction we had to carry lots of lumper around the job site on our shoulders n I tell ya that pad would make life a lot easier for em soilders

That's what that is? Wow. I remember seeing certain Star Wars stormtrooper figures with a single shoulder pad like that and never understood why.

Even though you’re a history nerd you still carry that “steal MY girl” kinda vibe... I like you for that reason

As an electrician, I would like some of these.

@wandapease-gi8yo

Жыл бұрын

Time to start making them for yourself and your buddies. Anyone else want them charge $20

@SamlSchulze1104

Жыл бұрын

@@wandapease-gi8yo Sound advice.

I love how he didn't even bother to check which way to put them on and then cuts to photos of soldiers obviouly wearing them the other way around from what he did.

Who decided what weapons were carried by patrols like machine guns and Tommy guns and mortars etc. Also, why wouldn't regular infantry be able to carry pistols?

I like how in the last picture the dude just said fuck the shoulderpad, I'm a marine 😂 *Injuries were determined to not be service related.

@ruthparker1140

10 ай бұрын

("Sgt.J.") Says: "I, Think you are Correct." 👍. "Unfortunately." ✌️🍻🕊️

@GaiusCaligula234

3 ай бұрын

What?

This dude is so cool. Thank you for educating us on these cool items, and you do it with the perfect poise and tone. I don’t feel like I’m listening to a wehraboo or a tankie, you just sound like a smart typical fellow

I really like your channel. Keep up the good work "soldier"!!

@WorldWarWisdom

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do

It's definitely a useful piece of equipment. Thanks for sharing!

My great grandfather used one of those. He was the heavy machine gunner in Guadalcanal. They also looted the dead bodies of the Japanese and I have Japanese military curacy and a Japanese dog tag. I found them in his closet and he let me have them. He passed away in 2014 at 91. He was an amazing man I still look up to him and I miss him.

I actually could use something like this. I carry heavy weapons on my shoulder a lot so this seems useful

I totally thought they were butt pads for sitting lol

I often see old issue items and wonder why they stopped making/issuing them.

Those would have been amazing on a medic training march 😭the pain in collarbone is mad

Gotta do a video on the m2 ammo vest to go with this video!

@WorldWarWisdom

Жыл бұрын

True! I don’t have one yet. Maybe that can be my excuse to buy one 😅

as a soviet reenactor who fields 82mm, pads and packs are a god send. for so long I didn't have them and carrying mortar parts was painful at best.

That there is one nice tactical pillow

Marching band like tubas or something need this

They probably made great pillows too

I need those. Where can I get them?

@haroldveenhuis634

Жыл бұрын

Je me too!!

Compared to today, it really seems like the military used to care a little bit more about the small comforts of their soldiers, knowing those small things go a long way in improving morale and overall combat effectiveness.

These need to get issued again. Holy fuck, I would've killed to have something like this.

@ruthparker1140

10 ай бұрын

As ("Sgt.J.") :Says Yeah! I, See news Footage of Knee Pads. And, I, Thought I, Saw Elbow Pads..? Where the F..k were Those when I, Was in? Some States NO LONGER have ACTIVE National Guard Units. Because Some Politicians had Kids, Friends. and, Other Family Members in During Iragi Freedom. And, In during Freedom. Now... Some Good units are Dispersed. 😠. I, Had a Couple of Marine Gaurd/ Reserve Buddies... I, Haven't had Contact with them in a Long time. I, Don't know if they experienced a Similar Fkd up deal to any of their units?

I like old mate carrying his M1919 on the opposite shoulder to the pad.

Bro is stuck in ww2 I swear

@donlarocque5157

2 ай бұрын

Reenactments. We called it Living History when I did it and I played a Kraut.

Look at the Roman legionarys kit. They had reinforced shoulders too

100% these two 'shoulder pads' were prized as Pillows for nap time too.

I love it! It was really great that some one had the forethought to consider and invent equipment that was actually helpful. Thank you so much for sharing such interesting and helpful information from WWII!

I used to use them in the Marine Corps carrying the 81mm mortar and 50 caliber machine gun. Damn now I feel really really old.

Outstanding! Thank you for your efforts. May you and yours stay well and prosper. Terry

I'd imagine these would be great cushions to sit on too when you're behind your MG.

Also cool how they had a oven mitten for when the MG got too hot.

I appreciate that you are a younger person who still has the interest in military history and gear. And with love and jest, Nerd!😉😜😆👍🤙🤞🇺🇲

Also made a softer seat than stone ground.

Other WW2 soldiers: *starving, cold, and low on ammo* 'Murican soldiers in WW2: "You mean you guys don't have shoulder pads?"

Those things were 100% called battle pillows

It'd be cool if they still had those. Signed, an artilleyman/ammo bearer on a weapons squad.

I have been to Hundreds of SURPLUS stores and walking in I'm Asked; "What are You Looking For???" 'The Strange and Obscure!' I'd Shout -----HA! Now I have a Garage FULL !

That actually sounds quite useful

His eyes are sooo beautiful

Worked as a scaff years ago and we stuffed padding into donkeyjacket shoulders to carry tubes.

These kinds of gear can also often tell you how much of a shit the nation in question ACTUALLY gave about their soliders

I always thought that this is what NCR troopers had, they would march a lot and have no trucks

@Malpais-Legate

8 күн бұрын

In the Mojave as well man

@clicheusername4416

8 күн бұрын

It was a good uniform

@Malpais-Legate

8 күн бұрын

@@clicheusername4416 i agree

I feel like you could also use them for sitting on cold rocks or ice.

Comfort improves efficiency

I need that to carry my heavy responsibility on my shoulder

I'd imagine this reduced infections too, since carrying heavy gear on an unpadded surface often causes abrasions, and it's not like they could just stop carrying the gear for the several days it'd take for the skin to heal, nor were they able to guarantee the site would stay clean!

Now they want you feel as much pain as possible so you can regret your life decisions

Also used to play tackle football on the C7 Douglas

I work for a fencing company and my crew would use the hell out of these

Back when the army cared about the comfort of their soldiers

@robertsandberg2246

Жыл бұрын

Well, when the literal future of the world is at stake, I guess they actually took a little time to think about things like that.... Just a thought...

@PMC_Wanker_Group

Жыл бұрын

You think they cared about the soldiers being comfortable haha that's cute

I wish we still had those, carrying a 240 gets old really fast

Having 25+ pounds on your shoulder all day for long stretches this is not making it a little easier, it's a game changer.

I can definitely see how that was very much appreciated 😅 carried just a few packages of new floor boards on my shoulder up a few sets of stairs and daaaamn my shoulder hurt so much afterwards 😂

Modern US Army: “Naah you don’t get no pads, gear unauthorized”

Love to see that mavhiengunner wearing this to the side while carrying his m1919, completely voiding its utility😂

All these guys in these historical photos look so bad ass

Over the shoulder heavy artillery and large munitions holder

I would use those to sit on as well after lugging around some heavy equipment lol.

We girls all need one for padding for our pocket book straps.

Might make a comfy makeshift pillow at night.

At first sight I thought these were supposed to be placed on a cavalryman's pelvis. Then I checked the video's title

Now they put armor in them and it's a whole vest, heavy itself!!!

That is very interesting. I have never seen or heard of padding for heavy weapons in WWII to aid in shoulder carrying. The video reminded me of my wife's grandfather. In his words," I was a bazooka man." I still get a kick out of the bazooka man. It has to be said with a SW Tennessean accent of an old man. He was a great guy, and he is now whole again, young, and with family and friends that went before him.

Agreed, love the unique bits!

I Always wondered that..thanks man!

Wow. I was watching the Pacific recently and thought "why didn't they just give them a little extra padding for their neck?" when watching the guys run around with the 1917 HMG or Sledge's Mortar team. Kinda cool to find out that it was actually a thing.

Love your vids

At first i thought it was a croutch protector

Wouldn't be surprised if Joe cut out a couple pieces of seat cushion from an otherwise broken truck and made the first one.

This guy is so awesome, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I thoroughly enjoy watching your vids.

I heard some would put that over their helmets to make a kinda comfy pillow

Those wouldve came in handy when i was scattering fence post, 4×4s on my shoulder

Are you sure you didn't have it on backwards? It looked like they had the closer part in front.

Would have loved to have those carrying my steel pipe ( M67 recoilless rifle ) in the 80's

That's not necessary, I can just steal the pillow at the destroyed house😁😁😁

You can also see it in Star Wars on sandtroopers

Thats really cool dude! I really wanna become a reenactor but I think I should just watch one. And if I see someone with a gopro on a helmet I know it's you. You are the BEST person to watch to learn about WW2

I feel this. While in the military, I was a skinny guy. And my Vietnam era vest would dig into my collarbone. I get rubbed raw and bleed. I “acquired” an ladies sweater from the barracks laundry room that had those “Power Shoulder” pads. I got them out and duck tape them under my armor. It work wonderfully. Adapting overcome🫡