Thanks Arminius, are you a re-enactor of some sort? I find that whilst there are lots of good books out there about uniforms, nothing beats original photos and actually looking at the real thing.

BDS, I dont think it was live but blank rounds still spray out hot gas and bits of brass (ooh, that rhymes). Actually I have found myself cutting a chunk of brass out of my shoulder after some jerk fired at me at close range, nice demonstration of why we should stick to safety distances

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.