Description
Physical description
Pad; oval-shaped padded protective pad faced with desert pattern two-colour Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) with a black plastic lining. The pad has two strips of Velcro to the outer face and has two corresponding lengths of elastic sewn to one edge, Velcro to the ends, allowing the pad to be secured and adjusted accordingly.
History note
Pads have been used by British personnel whilst on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to minimise personal damage at points of contact to the elbows and knees. This example is one of a pair worn by Corporal Moore MC when in action on 13 April, 2007. In conversation with the Uniforms Curator, Corporal Moore explained that some soldiers favoured wearing a single pad to one leg, being the one that was most often in ground contact when taking up a firing position. As the desert DPM uniforms are so thin and the terrain often rocky, the pads proved their worth in giving adequate protection.
Corporal Robert ('Billy') Moore MC of Southend on Sea joined the British Army in 1993. After completion of basic training he joined the 1st Battalion (the Vikings), The Royal Anglian Regiment, serving two tours in Northern Ireland, 1996 -97 and 1999-2001, respectively, Bosnia in 1995, Iraq 2005, before being deployed to Afghanistan during Operation HERRICK 6 in March 2007. It was there that as a Section Commander in 3 (Corunna) Platoon of A (Norfolk) Company that Corporal Moore's Section encountered five Taliban who were setting up an ambush east of Nowzad on 13 April (A Company's first contact). In the ensuing fight, Corporal Moore's gunner, Private Chris Gray was mortally wounded having killed two enemy, whilst Corporal Moore rushed forward to kill the remaining three with grenades and Gray's automatic weapon. Corporal Moore was wounded in the right upper arm by a 7.62mm round fired from an RPK, losing a large part of his deltoid muscle. Despite the severity of his wound he remained focused, and maintained command of his section, preventing further enemy cohesion and extracting Private Gray to the designated casualty evacuation point under constant harassing fire. After receiving initial first aid Corporal Moore was later flown to Camp Bastion where he was examined by surgeons before being sent to England for further medical attention. Indeed, after receiving treatment at Headley Court and a further spell at Pirbright Barracks (the Vikings' garrison) on light duties, Corporal Moore rejoined the Battalion in the field in late August to complete the tour, his wound healed and his physical fitness restored. For his acts of leadership, determination and courage, Billy Moore was awarded the Military Cross by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 1 May 2008.
Applied by hand in black ink to one of the elasticated straps.
MOORE 8926 O+