Tracking rifles.

[muffett.2008]

I have often mused when the question has been asked about where and why a rifle was issued and to whom.
As no records of issues has ever been sourced, the common reply has always been negative.

But there is a bit of a record, the AAB 83.
Going thru old paperwork at my 98 year old mothers and came across my fathers Demob. papers......Paybook, Medical records, GS Records and Record of Issues.........and low and behold is the issue of one SMLE S/N C3580.
Now this rifles S/N makes it a 1941 build........my father enlisted in 1941, so if you have access to your dads or uncles old records, you can at least put a Military District, Unit and date of issue to at least one soldier.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[jrhead75]

Sometimes you can get really lucky. My grandad was a sergeant with the 2nd Bn, 5th US Marines during WWI. I found among his papers an old notebook with all the men in his section listed, along with the serial numbers of all the weapons...rifles, pistols, and bayonets each man was issued.

I was able to find out (on this site, as a matter of fact) that my grandfather's rifle still exists and is in a private collection here in the US. While I don't normally collect '03s, I still keep a lookout for serial numbers.

Now if I could just be so lucky with the farther flung bits of the family across the various bodies of salty water...

[Richard Hare]

I had a an easy one some years ago;
The trigger-guard was engraved, "Capt. CSM Larder, the Devon Reg't"

It was a pre WW 1 rifle (No 1 Mk 111 of course.) badly chopped down as well, but we did find the aged daughter of the Captain with the help......... of a librarian!

Richard.
That's another one I should have kept...
Gun that is, not the , well, maybe...!

[Surpmil]

Sometimes you can get really lucky. My grandad was a sergeant with the 2nd Bn, 5th US Marines during WWI. I found among his papers an old notebook with all the men in his section listed, along with the serial numbers of all the weapons...rifles, pistols, and bayonets each man was issued.

I was able to find out (on this site, as a matter of fact) that my grandfather's rifle still exists and is in a private collection here in the US. While I don't normally collect '03s, I still keep a lookout for serial numbers.

Now if I could just be so lucky with the farther flung bits of the family across the various bodies of salty water...

Did you publish the other men's info and rifle numbers anywhere? Just in case any descendants were interested I mean.

[jrhead75]

Did you publish the other men's info and rifle numbers anywhere? Just in case any descendants were interested I mean.

I've passed the list along to both a fellow compiling a database of '03 numbers, and to another former Marine who's writing a book about Belleau Wood. Other than that, I'm still in the process of considering what I want to do with my grandfather's papers.

[Peter Laidler]

I tried to take a No1 rifle butt off a rifle and the stock bolt screwdriver was caught up in a bit of rolled up card which bore the name of Pte I Graham, Border Regiment. I half heartedly followed it up with the old Border Regt museum at Carlisle. The bosss there told me in a couldn't-really-care-less manner that unless I had more info it was a forlorn task as Graham is a common name up in those wild parts. You know....., the sort of reply that makes you wish you hadn't bothered!

[jrhead75]

I found 2 Pte I. Grahams with the Border Regiment, both WWI.

Pte I. Graham 3709, age 27 with 10 years service as of 1916. transferred to sick convoy (No. 23 Ambulance Train) for Myalgia, mid July 1916.

-and-

Pte. Irving Graham 8061, age 33, from Carlisle. Killed in action 7 August 1917, age 33. Husband of Mrs. Mc. A Graham of 8 Milan Terrace, Carlisle.