Black button compass, 1990 (c)

Special Forces troops have often carried an emergency survival kit in case they lose their main pack and equipment. The kit needs to be small enough to fit in a tobacco tin, but still contain enough equipment to preserve life in an emergency situation. Most kit's featured an escape compass. Button-size compasses, such as this one, can be sewn into clothing or easily hidden.

This example is from a personal survival kit belonging to Sergeant 'Andy McNab', DCM, MM. McNab commanded an eight-man Special Air Service (SAS) team under the call sign 'Bravo Two Zero' during the Gulf War (1990-91).