'Better kit' for British army

Helen Drew The Politics Show South East

Many soldiers go to army surplus stores to buy the clothes they need with their own money.

Robert Dicketts lost his son in the Nimrod crash 2006.

"You expect your son to be looked after by the military. He was a fantastic son, full of life."

Reg Carter is a veteran of the Second World War 1939-1945.

"It's so obvious they're starved of the right equipment. We had everything we needed"

Two men, two different generations, two different experiences.

The same Remembrance Sunday story.

'Better kit'

How we provide for our troops is a controversial issue, from whether soldiers are provided with the right clothing to allegations of cost-cutting for aircraft.

Only last week Gordon Brown thought better of cutting £20m from the Territorial Army's budget.

There is a Facebook group called 'Better Kit for a Better British army'. Even the army's own magazine has critical comments on its website.

Many soldiers decide to upgrade their basic military kit

Many soldiers go to army surplus stores to buy the clothes they need with their own money. At one store in Kent, we found a man who is halfway through his TA training doing just that. We do not name him to protect his army career.

He told us how boots are a prime example.

"Everyone gets supplied with a pair but they're really uncomfortable and absolutely everyone buys their own.

"And the socks we're given fall apart, causing our feet to be cut to shreds, so everyone buys 1000 mile socks".

He also said that while most of the kit provided is adequate, it is not great, which is why many soldiers go out to buy upgrades, known in military circles as 'Gucci equipment'.

And it is not just boots and socks.

Cost cutting

Last week a report into the accidental crash in 2006 of a Nimrod aircraft which left 14 people dead accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs.

One of those killed, Lance Corporal Oliver Dicketts, grew up in Kent. He was an only child and his dad is very proud of him.

"I'm an accountant and Oliver said very early on that he didn't want to do that. He was a scuba diver and parachutist, fun to be with".

Lance Corporal Oliver Dicketts died in the Nimrod crash in 2006

The report says that the aircraft was not airworthy and that more money should have been invested in replacing it.

For Robert Dicketts this means the accident was avoidable and it must not be allowed to happen again.

Reg Carter, who lives in Whitstable, fought in World War Two and his bravery earned him the Military Medal.

He says costs were not cut when he was serving his country.

"We were never short of ammunition, never short of food and our uniform, we had everything we needed. We had the right kit for the job. It's so obvious that today they're starved of the right equipment they should have".

Like our trainee soldier in the army surplus shop, Robert Dicketts says that the lack of suitable kit was an issue for his son too.

"Oliver complained non-stop about the lack of equipment. As for the gas protection - he was very tall and it was too short for him. He had big feet and the boots didn't fit. He had to spend £400- £500 to equip himself."

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