Graham Satchell's special report for Breakfast produced thousands of e-mails and texts. Ex-serviceman Jim Ritchie emailed us from Paisely:

We did without in the Falklands: crap boots, no foul weather kit.

In the gulf the last time we had to trade our kit with the Yanks to survive.

Yes, we do as soldiers buy and customise kit - that's because what we are issued is crap. I know I had to do it.

My son in law is out there right now. We are sending him food and second hand desert cam kit to keep him going.

If new kit was available we would send that, but we have to make do with army surplus. I am angry with myself for disclosing this but I do not want my daughter ending up a widow after only three months of marriage

Jim Ritchie, Paisley