SMLE found by an author researching the fighting and retreat to Dunkirk

[Frederick303]

Gentlemen,

I do not doubt it was found as described and that all the evidence indicates it is of 1940 vintage. Not in any way. My posts were all just musings on it, as it seems rather an uncommon configuration for the period. I was, and am hoping that this most unusual relic will open up some someones memory or knowledge base and we Enfield fans will be able to pick their brains. My posts were just attempts to keep the discussion going. I have already learned that unmodified SMLE MKIII rifles are more common then I thought, at least in England. They are not common here, though one does see them on occasion. Most though seem to be restorations, at least here on this side of the pond.

One of the things I have wondered about is the near complete lack of SMLE MKI rifles in existence today. Here in the US other then a very few SMLE MKI rifles of various configurations, the only SMLE MKI rifles one sees are the MKI*** Irish rifles, of which 4,105 were imported into the US of A in February of 1962. Even in Australia, from what I have seen, the only common MK I configuration is the pre-war police rifles. Other versions of the rifle just are not around except for a very rare example here and there. For example I have never seen a barleycorn sighted SMLE MKI in the flesh, only pictures of one and have never seen on for sale on this side of the pond..

Yet the 1924 UK inventory shows ~90,000 on hand, what happened to them? I have always assumed that the UK sent them to India, to be broken down and rebuilt into some sort of MKIII configuration. This relic seems to indicate there might be another explanation and that they may have seen some use far past when anyone thought they saw service. It is all very interesting and I hope more informations is ultimately forthcoming.

regards

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Peter Laidler
If the pictures were posted without the story my reaction would be "how sad". The pictures with the story "magnificent"! Thank you for sharing.
P.S.
Could you share the title of the book you are reading?

[Surpmil]

The missing safety and the heavily damaged wood suggest to me that a generation or two of children may have played with it. The missing marking disc and the tape around the butt wrist as well. Someone has recently broken the head off the rear guard screw I see.

I'm not very up on early SMLE's; is that the correct foresight blade?

[Peter Laidler]

Kids, playing Surpmil? Obviously a jestful comment........ It's a ring of oily stuff around the butt. The butt marking disc has recent fallen out as can be seen by the dust free recess and verdegres, caused by the screw just falling out of the dry-rotten wood. It just looks to me that the change lever/safety screw has been removed to further disable the rifle by throwing the safety mechanism away. Obviously done at the same time

Can't answer the sheared off screw but it's recent. The rifle is what it is and been where it's been

[Rusty.303]

G'Day all, I must say I am enjoying the thread.
A bit off topic but anyway.
My neighbors father is 96 years old, he fought in Greece in WW2 when the Germans invaded.
He narrowly escaped with a few others by requisitioning a small boat, rowing to where they were randomly picked up by an allied destroyer.
Before this they ditched the rifles minus mag and bolt.
He told me about 6 months ago that when he reached home questions were asked about the his rifle, he told me he was going to be charged for the rifle until he produced the mag and bolt which he still had.
The sharp old bugger still remembers the rifles serial no.

[Beerhunter]

My neighbors father is 96 years old, he fought in Greece in WW2 when the Germans invaded.

Even further OT (perhaps) there is an old boy (at least there was a few years back) who lives in the centre of Crete. IIRC he was about nine years old when the Germans invaded in 1941. Being that kind of boy, he started "picking stuff up" and has been doing so ever since. So he now owns one of the best collections of German and British Commonwealth kit on the island. (Bits of Ju52, gliders & tanks, guns, radios, etc.) It's mostly in a dreadful state but it is worth a visit.

BTW, if you visit his "museum" and you have a British or antipodean accent you will be treated like a king, I was. Many Cretans believe that the Greek Government left them in the lurch and the British Commonwealth soldiers did their best to protect them from the Germans. Additionally, the Cretans felt that they did not have the means to defend themselves and so after the war, lots of German weapons were "picked up" by the locals and secreted away "for the next time".

[5thBatt]

I'm not very up on early SMLE's; is that the correct foresight blade?

Correct blade, here is a photo of my two 1904 Mk1 SMLEs

[browningautorifle]

when he reached home questions were asked about the his rifle, he told me he was going to be charged for the rifle until he produced the mag and bolt which he still had.

That's very interesting. And makes perfect sence as to why no bolt and mag in the found rifle.

[Peter Laidler]

Greece...... with the state of the Greek currency, it reminds me of a joke doing the rounds. Angela Merkel went to Greece to see the Greek PM and was stopped at Athens airport.
'Name' said the customs man
'Angela Merkel' she replied
'Reason for your visit' the man snapped
'To see the PM about the economy' she snapped back
'Occupation' he snapped
'Not this time......., just a word of advice and we'll see what happens....'

Ho, ho, ho....., the old ones are the best!

[Paul S.]

Good one!