Great pics and films can see in AWM web page!
Australian War Memorial
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Great pics and films can see in AWM web page!
Australian War Memorial
More https://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?q...lters=&filter=
the guy on the right is also being naughty and using his front handle straight out when not in anti aircraft "mode".
That was pretty observant..... If he is using it pulled out, square to the gun then it's because someone has told him that it could be used like this when fired from the waist. NOT SO! It will soon pull your arm out at the socket!
Another for you all
the other (to me) iconic bren pic
(well discounting the ivor hele "taking old vickers position" painting)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1ed2b1a3-1.jpg
“ A Bren gun team of 2/8th Australian Infantry Battalion support an attack on Mount Shiburangu, near Wewak in Papua New Guinea. ”
the grenade launching no1 mk3 is interesting too. what is the shiny bit on the fore end between the magazine and the binding?
edit. totally off topic, but i love the way that in any pic you see of an australian in the field, thier slouch hat has been totally reshaped.
I'm pretty sure that's the reinforcing bolt in the fore-end.Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
They call them a bush hat at that point. They all have two, one for garrison and one for field.Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
I can't recall seeing one in hand before.Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
That is correct. The Indians carried on fitting a variant of this. As a Standard fitting to all their .303" Rifles. And also the postwar SMLE in 7.62mm.Quote:
Originally Posted by desperatedan
They used a woodscrew, as the head could be screwed down flush with the side of the forend. Making for a smoother & more comfortable grip.
The purpose of these componants, was to prevent splitting of the forend during recoil. Particularly violent when firing ballastite cartridges when discharging Grenades! (NEVER EVER from the shoulder though! It would break your shoulder bone!)..........
As a bit of an aside. I'm sure that the reinforcing nut and bolt for the EY rifle and the strengthening screw for the standard rifle were in different positions according to the old EMER which I can't seem to find. The wood screw was just to prevent the fore-end splitting longitudinally and the 1/4" bolt was to reinforce the breech area. Same meat, different gravy as they say!
Interesting picture Henry. I like the way he's holding the Bren. I was told not to hold it that way, but.....
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8/gilli2-1.jpg
Korea
"Vince Gilligan on Hill '355 gun position
Note mortar exploding in rear/left"
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5/08/513-1.jpg
Bluey Clark manning his Bren gun sans magazine on The Hinge in October '51.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5/08/161-1.jpg
"Armed and dangerous. 3RAR elements wait on hillside for the enemy."
Korea '51
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../small38-1.jpg
"One of the baggy arses. Bluey Clark 1951"
the last three photos taken by Ron Cashman 6 Platoon, B Coy, 3RAR, Korea '51-'53
Mk3 Brens issued from UK stockpiles
And welcomed I'm sure...for being just a smidge lighter...even if only in perception.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Here's the full length of that phot.
Attachment 65011
I believe they are Canadians.
Maybe...a #4, a #4T with 1907 sling and the ubiquitous Bren...don't know about them being CDN though. Two on the right have full height boots, look like US issue airborne Corcorans. 1 Can Para???
I would say the T is correct with the windage drum just visible and he does have a fair bit more camouflage on his helmet he may have a Ghillie top half in his pack nice pic all the same
To add to the Canadian theory. Notice the U.S Issue Plastic Torche's?....;)
Possibly. I just can't say for sure.
I'll go with Jim here - 1 Can Para. They have Commonwealth issue webbing and BD strides on and Commonwealth issue weapons. It appears to be Northern Europe - my guess - Winter of 1944-45. The boots lends one to conclude 1 Can Para, but it isn't conclusive. Given the state of logistics at that point in time it isn't unrealistic to believe that some of their stores (the boots, the torches, rations, etc.) didn't come from the Americans via their 'Red Ball Express'.
We had those little green torches until well into the 80's and they were still referred to as American torches even though they were made by EVER READY by then. They were still dished out to students on the PCD and JOTAC courses at Warminster About as dim as a Toc-H lamp! How did we ever read a map with that stuff! Mind you, being Commissioned, I didn't get to read many maps!
You had to use a flashlight to see if they were lit...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Ha,Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Excellent Jim! I like that! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Off the subject a bit, but with the advent of those ultra bright LED bulb torches you had to keep impressing on the students that the glow from one of these at night, even at a couple of K's away was an INSTANT attraction to the DS (the directing staff) who were searching out the area with night vision. Whereas you wouldn't need to think about the consequences of the dim glow of a normal torch - well you did but the glow was easily shielded under an arm or cupped hand.
Or under a poncho, when studying a Map.....:D
I remember as a young 'un we'd swipe cheap crap like that and try to hoard it for personal use. The flashlight was among the most prized for some reason, next came the Silva Ranger compass. Later with the advent of the mini mag-lite they went the way of the Dodo. I had three or four around and they would give grief, you could trouble shoot them and then they would fail again next time. Our batteries were purchased by the freight car full so they were long since punk by use time, like the radio batteries...so finally we wised up and bought civvy flashlights and ended our problems. Then the mark of the older soldier was his OWN flashlight that worked and the young had the issue...
Somewhere in Palestine. No date..https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d0a3bb75-1.jpg
Enviado desde mi SM-J200M mediante Tapatalk
The truck is interesting that's been converted to run on rails. Any ideas on the make anyone, please?
I see he picked himself up a Beretta Vincent, did you inherit his obvious taste for exotic firearms I wonder mate:super:
Seems to be an early version of MAD MAX Rail Truck...:madsmile:Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
A soldier of the King’s Own Royal Regiment on train escort in a truck adapted to run on rails. Other patrols used enclosed wagons. Train escort was,‘….a soul searing job which entailed sitting for hours in oven-hot iron trucks, lumbering slowly through deep defiles, bored, sweating and dirty.’ Lion and Rose Regimental Magazine, 1939. By kind permission of the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster. (You could probably shorten this to basic 'A British soldier on train escort duty during the 1936-39 Arab Uprising in Palestine. Copyright the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.'
Britain In Palestine, Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London
I haven't heard of this uprising, by the Arabs, in Palestine just before WW2. The only uprising in Palestine, while under British derestriction, that ever seems to get mentioned here is the one that happened just after WW2 and led to the creation of modern-day Israel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Bren
And it has a drum mag adapter on it.
ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST, 1941-1945. | Imperial War Museums
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tographs-1.jpg
From their hillside post, Leading Aircraftmen A Nickson and F Yewbrey of the RAF Regiment point out Japanese positions in the Imphal Valley to their Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader T F Ryalls, and a unit commander, Flying Officer J D Crowhill. At the height of the Siege of Imphal, four RAF Regiment squadrons, and numerous light anti-aircraft flights, were employed in defending the airfields in the valley.
---------- Post added at 09:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 PM ----------
https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/55/10...at=photographs
A Bren gun team of an RAF Regiment Anti-Aircraft Flight, await the order to move forward while securing a desert landing ground in Egypt. These units seized the Fuka and Daba landing grounds during the enemy's withdrawal following the Battle of El Alamein, capturing 300 some prisoners and clearing the area ready for the arrival of the flying squadrons.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943. | Imperial War Museums
My dad told me that RAF = Rare As Fairies
Even rarer now Peter!!
Private Watkins of the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, aims his Bren gun from a dugout in the garden of a house in Gangelt, on the Dutch/German border, 17 December 1944.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205402364
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH WEST EUROPE 1944-45 | Imperial War Museums
I cant help wondering what would have happened if he'd started firing his Bren, with those iron or steel railings about 10" from the muzzle. He'd have got an awful lot of ricochets and splinters back in his face.
Photo 3 might be a vehicle mechanic "on loan".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent
Looks like your Dad is holding a Beretta Modelo 38A SMG.
We had a Valentine tank in the kids play area, as a bit of playground kit while I was at the big Ordnance Depot at Ngaruawahia on the North island during '68. IT was a job in NZ or off to Malaya ..... yet again - and then off to do a similar job in SVn. Well, I told the other bloke he needed the experience and a man has to take the rough with the smooth so I opted for NZ.
Anyway, I wonder what happened to the Valentine.
P1908 pattern web equipment ....Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Bren
Peter, I don't know about the Valentine at Ngaruwhahia but there was another in the playground at Ohakune (near Waiouru Camp) that has since been fully restored by a collector, as have several other field guns etc. that were once in public areas. Several are still on public display but many have been sold/given to collectors. Many district councils are a bit on the PC side (but not all!). Collectors take great pride is displaying their toys at MV displays around NZ each year.
We also had an old war time type Jeep Woodsy that could be used for unit approved 'recreation' at the weekend on a 'repayment' basis. I used it a couple of times, took my girlfriend over to the East coast for a couple of long weekends to Tauronga. Told the ASM me and a couple of the blokes were going fishing. He called me a 'lying pom' - but nodded his approval. Sadly the other two blokes couldn't make it.........
Tauranga is quite a nice place, but you wouldn't have noticed that!
The 'Phoney' War, October 1939 - May 1940: Men of the Royal Fusiliers man a Bren gun position at the front near Saint Francois-Lacroix.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e_000000-3.jpg
THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (BEF) IN FRANCE 1939-1940 | Imperial War Museums
Wondering how the Bren and the SMLE worked in bitter cold? About as well as any weapon I suppose? Any special preps to keep them active and ready? Action covers?
As I recall from the Infantry Pamphlets, no grease or oil since both solidified from the cold.
The SMLE faired well during the winter of 1915 when my granddad was at Ypres when things suddenly got 'hot'.
Thanks Paul. That makes great sense. I did not realize weapons oil might solidify as well?? We only touched on a few degrees below freezing, but man, the grease in the gun slowed up the action significantly. Had to remove all grease and just oil the gun to get it to feed. The grease was in there as it was brand new from the maker and he greased it for the break in. Nobody mentioned not to try “ breaking it in” during sub freezing weather. 😉
Sorry. Should have replied privately I suppose? Don’t mean to start thread drift. I love all these historical images of the Bren in various theaters.
Did paratroopers go in with Brens? Any pictures of Troop’s kitted up for jumps?
We taught a whole lesson about care for weapons in sub zero climate, removing oil and grease and replacing with graphite powder. Even light oil freezes, better to have nothing than that. You can't add when it's hot as it still chills down after. Yes, a definite problem after a certain temperature drop.Quote:
Originally Posted by AmEngRifles
There is a video about the Parachute Regiment that has some historical footage as well as new Paras being taught about the regiment's history. In it, you can see a demonstration of how an WWII Para would have been kitted for a jump.Quote:
Originally Posted by AmEngRifles
I’ll never forget the use of Stove Naptha to defrost your weapon.
No Brens, no machine guns. You can't parachute a largish force without their additional equipment, ammunition, mortars, radios, food, etc.
Funny that should come up. I was just trying out the fit of a single Bren sling and I must have a regular SMLE sling with Bren hooks? Well, if you like carrying the gun up under your armpit, ok, but for those of us over 6" tall, I like a rifle to hang a bit lower, so had just though about putting two Enfield slings together in a manor similar to what you describe. Should give me plenty of length then. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brit plumber
---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------
Sure, but they would still have Stens. But I suspect they would want the firepower of the Bren. Sorta like having the PIAT along... Big Medicine. :beerchug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Daan Kemp
---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 PM ----------
Any Bren pics from the Malayan conflict?
i have a 1941 enfield single dovetail with the fluted front and the rib on the right side
That’s a 4th stage intermediate probably with a serial between F1 and F7000.Quote:
Originally Posted by theczechboss
sn number is F3966Quote:
Originally Posted by Brit plumber
You seriously compare the firepower and use of a a submachinegun with a machine gun?Quote:
Originally Posted by AmEngRifles
I don't seriously do anything. I ask questions. Besides, if it was a fast, light mission, it MAY have been possible that some jumps to go without heavier weapons?Quote:
Originally Posted by Daan Kemp
Troops of the Hampshire Regiment onboard a landing craft during combined operations training at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, June 1942.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 PM ----------
Commandos demonstrate a technique for crossing barbed wire during training in Scotland, 28 February 1942.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45 | Imperial War Museums
ROYAL MARINES IN THE DUKE OF YORK. JUNE 1943, IN NORTHERN WATERS
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
ROYAL MARINES IN THE DUKE OF YORK. JUNE 1943, IN NORTHERN WATERS. | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 08:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:34 PM ----------
A Bren gunner rests in a cornfield near Briquessard, during Operation 'Bluecoat', the offensive south-east of Caumont, 30 July 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 | Imperial War Museums
Nice to see a little Lanchester on board the Duke of York. Is the man in the dark overalls priming the grenades I ask...., or loading a Bren mag. Is that a Boys rifle muzzle we see, bottom left. Incidentally, the very first issue of Lanchesters to the Navy was to the Marines aboard the Battle Cruiser HMS Renown. The only Battle Cruiser to survive the war! There'll be a few more Lanchesters on her sister ship, the Repulse a few miles off the East Coast of Kuantan in Malaya.
That's not a wise move to run across someones back because your steel heel plate would make the other bloke wince a bit!
My first thought upon seeing that picture was how little I'd like to be lying across barbed wire and have a mate land his bloody big size 9 hobnailed boot with full weight in the small of my back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
As for the RM photo, I think the bloke in the dark BD is the QMS. It appears he's arming the grenades for issue while the Sgt. is issuing the Bren magazines. That is a Boys parked on the deck.
What is slightly surprising is that they have No. 4 rifles. Given that some units were still equipped with SMLEs when they landed at Normandy almost a year later, I'd have suspected ships' company Marines would have been further down on the SMLE to No. 4 change over list.
Men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 36th Infantry Division, man a position by the River Mu's weir in anticipation of an enemy counter attack, January 1945.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...38795615-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN BURMA 1945 | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------
Troops of the 5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade (3rd Carpathian Rifles Division, 2nd Polish Corps), armed with Thompson submachine guns and Bren machine guns, plodding their way through the thick mud at Faenza, 13 February 1945. They are probably coming back from a patrol in the hills south of River Senio which separated them from the enemy.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, 1943-1945 | Imperial War Museums
https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/539/6...080.1545234548
You have to ask yourself, why march through deep glutinous mud when there is obviously drier ground off to the right - except for the photographer wanted a good picture and asked them to do it.
I believe that's an Officer with the Thompson, he's wearing his comin' ashore boots so he doesn't mind the mud.
---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 PM ----------
That's how we taught to cross wire, even when I started. Later we went under if possible... Now it's just different. When I started, we still trained for WW2.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul S.
He has his hands full of .303 bandoleers, doubt he's half holding grenades too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul S.
We were taught to put the foot on his buttocks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
We were taught that too as an expedient, but with rubber soled boots.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
British troops man a position in a building in Faub de Vaucelles, 19 July 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 08:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 PM ----------
Private Beale of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1 November 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums
West Indian troops in Britain: Two members of the Royal Engineers, Sapper Sinclair (left) and Sapper Dunn, both from Jamaica, pictured with a Bren gun, at Clitheroe, Lancashire.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
WEST INDIANS IN BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 08:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
1st Battalion, Caribbean Regiment preparing to return from Egypt to the West Indies in 1945: A Bren gunner and rifleman, both crouching use a small bank of sand as cover during training.
https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/39/68...526.1538163951
THE CARIBBEAN REGIMENT DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 PM ----------
An Indian infantry section of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment about to go on patrol on the Arakan front, Burma.
https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/49/65...526.1538163951
INDIAN TROOPS IN BURMA, 1944 | Imperial War Museums
Bottom pic, man in the back has his 1907 blade tied or wired onto his rifle...man at front left seems to have a great lump at the pommel of his 1907 blade...clearly part of it. Strange both...
Men of the 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment clearing houses in Venraij, 17 October 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45 | Imperial War Museums
A German prisoner, Unteroffizier Leo Marsiniak, being escorted at Newhaven. He was captured at the gun battery at Varengeville by No. 4 Commando.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE DIEPPE RAID, 19 AUGUST 1942 | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 PM ----------
Tired and dishevelled troops at Newhaven after the Diepper raid, 19 August 1942.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...15753154-1.jpg
THE DIEPPE RAID, 19 AUGUST 1942 | Imperial War Museums
That lump is his finger lol. If that’s what you’re looking at.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Agree with finger!...….not sure about the wire??
In the Dieppe pic, Bren on left, is that yet another Drum mag adaptor?
LOVE THIS THREAD, MORE PLEASE!:)
Yes it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brit plumber
For all the members of this forum, Merry Christmas!!
Rifleman Corker of 1st Rifle Brigade enjoys Christmas lunch in his foxhole on the front line, Nieuwstadt, 25 December 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...01845415-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums
My dad was at Monte Cassino and as a result has always had the greatest of respect for the Sikhs and Poles. The Sikhs fought like devils in Malaya. Unlike some others, namely the Gurwhalis who were described as 'the galloping Gurwhalis'
As for wire crossings, we would blow them with a long length of pipe filled with dynamite and smoke pellets. As it blew you cossed where the smoke was
Thanks for a great thread! Merry Christmas to all.
I like the overalls Rifleman Corker has on. Mechanics overalls? Looks like a comfy outfit in the chill of a December morning.
We used to call those heavy duty overalls 'tank suits' They were nice and warm in a freezing tank but once the tanks were running, even on a cold day they soon got hot inside - too hot for tank suits hence the ability to draw down the front of the tank suit bib. I only know about the Centurions of course but inside, during the summer it was PT shorts and top when the hatches were closed down on the advance
Improvised Bangalore, still very much taught on demolition instructor and pioneers. Far easier to do than losing a man in the wire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Yep, that's what they were BAR.... I'd forgotten the name of them. It was always said that you could jamb them into tank or other AFV tracks and blow them. Not that us REME types ever got that close to enemy tanks. Or enemy anything now that I come to think about it!
Oh, I dont know pete. What about all those 'Battles' in the NAAFI's?...…..:D
Could be used for destruction after the fact of enemy equipment...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Quote:
Originally Posted by tankhunter
:rofl: After a few beers and a misunderstanding...but "It were a friendly fight sir!"...
Men of 4th Field Regiment, 2nd New Zealand Division, man a Bren gun on an anti-aircraft mounting in a sandbagged emplacement, 12 June 1940.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...57486315-1.jpg
COMMONWEALTH FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA | Imperial War Museums
Private Beale of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1 November 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...74863154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums
---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 AM ----------
Infantry and carriers of 8th Royal Scots pause during the attack by 15th (Scottish) Division on Tilburg, 27 October 1944.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...74863154-1.jpg
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums
Photo 3: Grease and oil-change?
I think the guy second from bottom in that last photo has just remembered he left the back door unlocked when he left home.
I'm sure one of our Dutch forumers could easily locate the photo of the Bren carrier platoon resting near Tilburg.