1896 stock disk

[BurtonP]

Hey folks,
Any guesses to the attribution on this stock disk that came in a job lot of Enfield parts would be appreciated. It might be Canadian, but that would be a guess.





For those who can't make it out it appears to read:

8
1896
S*R GA
217 or 2L7

Cheers,
Burton

Information

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[Surpmil]

Probably 8th Company Royal Garrison Artillery. The RGA manned the coastal defence forts on both coasts IIRC and were withdrawn around 1906 and replaced with Canadian formations.

I believe Halifax and Esquimalt were the their last deployments and the withdrawal was caused by the full handover of those bases and their defences to the then nascent RCN.

[BurtonP]

Excellent! Thanks Supmil!

---------- Post added at 12:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 PM ----------

Would garrison artillery units be issued with Long Lees in 1896? I'm guessing probably not Lee Enfield Carbines?

[Surpmil]

Excellent! Thanks Supmil!

---------- Post added at 12:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 PM ----------

Would garrison artillery units be issued with Long Lees in 1896? I'm guessing probably not Lee Enfield Carbines?

I believe carbines were only issued to the Royal Field Artillery and some or all cavalry regiments.

With a bit of digging it should be possible to find out which coast the 8th were on. I've seen a photo of the last RGA troops in BC marching to the ship for embarkation home and IIRC they were not carrying arms so perhaps those were handed over as part of the equipment of the forts?

[green]

Probably a .303" MM or ME artillery carbine, see "Defending the Dominion"

[BurtonP]

Ah, yes. That makes sense.
Thanks.

[green]

The British garrison artillery in Halifax and Esquimault were armed with .303 Martini carbines which were left when Canada took control of these stations.
See "Defending the Dominion".