"RLI" marked Enfield

[hockeybuff]

Any guess as to what this marking means?
It is on a 1949 (F) #1
Is that a unit mark? If so, Reed (?) light infantry or Rhodesian?
Thanks!

Information

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[Terrylee]

I expect that the rifle originated in South Africa where R.L.I. stands for Rand Light Infantry.

[Peter Laidler]

Or Rhodesia. Rhodesia Light INfantry

[RobD]

Let's see the rest of the rifle...

[Peter Laidler]

Pre Independance - or slavery, depending on your point of view, the Rhodesian Army was based and run on British lines and their kit was well maintained as most of their Armourers were ex UK Military anyway so if it is/was Rhodesian, it'll have been well maintained but I understood that the main Lee Enfield battle rifle was the No4

[Thunderbox]

Didn't the RLI only stand up in 1961? As the regular infantry unit in the colony, I'd have thought they'd have gone straight onto L1A1s instead of using No4s.

[Peter Laidler]

Very probably T/box. But just as a little aside, on the road into one of the old camps just to the South of Ipoh on the road down towards Central Malaya, all of the old regiments had their badges cut into some of the local rock. There were loads of course plus the Kenya Regiment, the Fiji Regiment and one, still painted in colour, an oval shield was The Rhodesian African Rifles from memory, I think it was 1954-56. How times have changed

[hockeybuff]

Ok, Thanks!
As it turns out I was able to look at the rifle and see the SA marks on the receiver above the chamber, so I'm going with Rand Light Infantry.
Thanks again.............

[gsimmons]

Can we see piccies of the rifle please?

[hockeybuff]

Sure!
It's a gunbroker sale:

"No 4 Mk1 Enfield Rifle post war 1949 NO. 4 mk 1"

Auction # 300003757

No 4 Mk1 Enfield rifle post war 1949 NO. 4 mk 1 I : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com