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At the tail end of WW2 OA had quite a substantial workforce that would have to be re employed in other industries once wartime small arms production ceased.
Following representations from various parties, it was decided that rather than flood the employment market, the release of employees would be done gradually.
To keep the retained staff occupied, an unofficial FTR program was implemented bringing rifles that were formerly deemed not financially viable for repair up to a serviceable standard using whatever parts were available. As the program was unofficial, in addition to reducing costs, standards were lowered so that many parts that would have been replaced during a proper FTR were re used.
When Bogan Gate was emptied out in the late '80s many of these rifles came onto the market and whilst a dedicated collector would turn their nose up at them as most didn't conform to the norm, they were perfectly good rifles.
If you come across a tidy example with staked screws, a late wartime OA barrel, a scraped English butt and top wood, a late wartime SLAZ fore end and a mix of new and old smaller parts such as sights, trigger guard, cocking piece etc. don't write it off as a backyard put together. It could well be one of the OA refurbished rifles.
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It's one of the 101,000 rifles sent out in 1919-1921 under the 'Imperial Ordnance Program'. These were sent out to replace rifles that Australia had used in WW1.
I note some little inaccuracies in some of the other comments;
- "rifles lent to G B at the beginning of WW1" There was no such thing done. Australia took over all its stock of SMLEs from Nov 1914 until Oct 1915.
From Oct 1915, Britain took over the issuing of rifles to Australians when they landed in Egypt. In early 1916, those heading to France handed in their rifles for newer HV rifles and those older Mk.VI sighted rifles (Lithgows too) were then sent back to Britain for refurb and handing back out to whom needed them.
At the end of WW1, Australia handed in all its rifles and returned empty handed and from 1919 onwards, new rifles arrived and were handed out to the MDs (Military Districts).
- "didn’t start out with aussie rifles at first a lot where Britishicon issued rifles and when they got manufacturing up and running they made it to aussie troops ie 1915"
The AIF certainly did take Lithgows with them to Gallipoli etc. It wasn't until 1915 that production was in a decent enough state that the troops training in Australia were able to be armed for training. Prior to the decision to keep sending rifles overseas, Australian stocks of SMLEs were that low that there was a danger of
running out of rifles here. That's why Britain said they would take over the issuing of rifles in Egypt after pleading from Australia to help out.
I have my theory about the FTR marked rifles. Here's my theory - - - The D^D and A^F were marked as such as they were being allocated to specific service for National Service. It's just my theory but the 1950 - 1959 refurb dates match perfectly with National Service and subsequent huge ordnance efforts to get rifles refurbed for that at Lithgow due to a lack of ordnance staff capable of equipment maintenance in the newly established CMF units.
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mattyboy82 thank you, very nice to know how, why and when it made it’s way from the UK to Australia .
At what stage were the wartime rifles stamped with the D^D?
Any significance to my rifle not being stamped?
The 6 ‘45 stamped barrel looks “new” inside and out suggesting to me limited use after it’s last rebuild.
Perhaps just stored away instead of going back into service?
It definitely has an interesting mix of Australian parts with very few remaining British components.
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Great info from all, thank you!
