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Four men of the 51st (Highland) Division dug in near El Alamein, 27 October 1942.
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German prisoners and their guards wait in a roadside ditch during 6th Armoured Division's attack on the town of Pichon, 8 April 1943.
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So true, as we are at the end of the line for WWII veterans -- heroic men and women that faced the horror of the Depression and then the War. There are some things that can be done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Hare
1) I'm going through the photos of my deceased parents and writing a story on the back of them to leave something for posterity.
2) I'm also writing stories of key events their lives to be inserted into the old photo albums to give meaning to what is otherwise a set of unknown photos.
3) With the help of their remaining friends, I'm writing the "Guiding Principles" that governed their lives and brought joy to those they influenced.
4) Using a Dremel tool, I'm engraving small plaques on key items of furniture (especially items that go back into the 1800s) to document the provenance in our family for future generations.
.....just a few small ways to memorialize and help preserve the ephemeral into something more lasting before our memories fade and lose all grasp of the richness of the past.
For my Enfield collection, I'm writing a similar story for each gun -- each of the markings tell a story of how it came into being, where it was probably used heroically, and then how it phased out of service eventually to fall into our hands. Generations from now, how much of what of what we have learned about these weapons will be passed down unless we write it down?
It was not unknown for a farmer to encourage a tank crew (or troop) to "accidentally" drive through a fence or over a crop by offering a bottle of something, just so he could put in a claimQuote:
Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...49491561-1.jpg
Can anyone tell what the second man from the left is holding?
He's holding a 1907 patt bayonet in his left hand and the bayonets leather scabbard attached to the webbing in his right hand. Looks to be me like they are giving their rifles a check and clean. There is a bolt lying just below the right shoulder of the left most soldier.
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B Coy., The 1st Btn the Northamptonshire Regiment, winners of the Company Shield In India for 1936
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Loading rodded grenades in Mesapotamia.
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The Grenadier Guards off to the war in 1914, at Wellington Barracks.
Mk V11,
Never actually seen photos of loading rodded granades before. Thanks for the picture!
You can tell the lads in the last picture are Guards, even without insignia. My Lee Enfields come up past me waist! Some of these lads are tall!
Richard.
Knowing what transpired during the first few months of the war brings the question: how many of them were still alive at Christmas 1914, or the next?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mk VII
Added:
I just noticed that some have webbing slings and others have leather ones.
A relative of mine was recruited into the Lifeguards (Household Cavalry) because he was well over 6 foot. The recruiting sergeant got a £5 bounty for signing him, which was a hell of a lot of money in the later 1940s. I believe this was true for all the guards regiments at the time, and yes, I know the Household Cavalry were not the same thing as the Brigade of Guards, but the bounty applied to both, so I was told by a former recruiting sergeant of the time. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Hare
Malta A 3-inch mortar team laying a smoke screen during a demonstration exercise, 13 April 1942. Note helmet camouflage.
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They obviously hadn't heard of the principles of camouflage. Shape, shine, shadow etc etc. The first principle is to break upo the shape of obvious objects....., like helmets!
What's that emblem though? Free French?
Possibly The Kings Own Malta Regiment. Or-Bat shows their 3 Battalion was there then.
Paint pattern's the same, the emblem not so much...
The vast majority of histories of the Malta campaign are dedicated solely to RN and MN or RAF (&FAA) participation. Land forces are grossly ignored. The best internet reference to the land force Or-Bat is this thread from another website: Malta Garrison 1942 - Axis History Forum
That must have made a terrifying sight for the receiving end:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ro-bert
All 3 of these are posed, but give an idea of Tommies on campaign in South Africa 1899-1902.
This one shows MLM Mk IIs (I think), in use at Modder River.
This photo explains at a glance the high number of head wounds sustained by British troops. The British attributed this to the uncanny marksmanship of the Boers, but it is actually just a function of shallow trenches, flat trajectories, and huge volumes of rifle fire.
Cool photos and info.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobD
The landscape looks somewhat bleak but maybe it's cos I live in the PacNW.
South Africa has the same amazing variations of landscape as does the USA, and the same vast distances. The northern Cape and Free State (shown in those photos) are a bit like New Mexico.
A group of Home Guard are trained in the use of a Northover Projector near the factory at which they work, somewhere in England, 1941.
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What is this?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...96861644-1.jpg
They still unearth crates of these northover projector napalm bombs. I think some were uncovered near a bridge in Kent recently and the workman smashed a few - until one ignited and singed his hair. He didn't come back for more!. We used to have one of the launchers at Warminster but as it wasn't relevany I think we gave it to the IWM.
I've read about this thing in the bottom photo - I think......... When you were retreating, you could leave a couple of loaded rifles in the trench, pointing in the general direction of the enemy. Put a water can above and a can below, attached to the trigger of the rifle. a VERY small hole in the top can allows water to trickle very slowly from the top can into the bottom can and as some point, the weight of the water will cause the bottom can to fall lower and lower until the weight fires the rifle via the string attached to the trigger.
Won't hit anything (?) of course but will still give the impression that the trench is manned so that a) you can retreat safely and b) ensure that the enemy have to get a platoon assembled to make an organised pincer attack
I believe this technique of remote & delayed firing of the rifle, or at least something achieving the same end, was used during the evacuation of Gallipoli.
That is correct. The same photo appears (reversed) in Les Carlyon's GALLIPOLI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Payne
Interesting. I noticed the magazine was removed from the rifle. No sense in leaving that behind.
Speaking of things left behind. Did they use the 12 gauge tripwire booby trap back then?
The Northover projector is also interesting to me. The glass incendiary grenades were filled with a mixture of white phosphorus, benzene a rubber. White phosphorus, or “Willie Pete” as it’s called here, ignites when exposed to the air. It’s not real “Napalm”, but in a way the rubber acts like the thickening agents in Napalm… to make it sticky.
Real Napalm was used toward the end of WW2. The name comes from the thickening agents, aluminum salts of NAphthenic and PALMitic acids.
The following website includes a pictorial of how the drip rifle worked and comments by historians on its use at Gallipoli.
Myth: The evacuation and the drip rifle - Fact Check - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Back in my school days growing up in country Australia, leading up to Anzac day each year we would study Gallipoli, and were all taught that the rifles rigged with time delay firing set up with the tins of water was used during the width drawl from Gallipoli
A patrol of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Anzio, 20-21 March 1944
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A patrol of the 2-7th Queen's Regiment enters the village of Pugliano, Italy, September 1943
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Looks like the platoon Cpl/Sgt is pointing out to the sniper a position that is causing them problems. I'd just use the section artillery - the 2" mortar - to do it. That gets 'em all. Rifle is a No4T trials. Looks like the scope is in a mk2 case around his back. Anyone recognise the tactical sign on the snipers arm. These were usually obscured by the censor.
Is this it? Looks like it anywayzzz...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
these gents are wearing cartridge carriers not mk1/2 ammunition pouches which means (being 1943) they are most likely royal army service corps, unless they are RAF (someone more knowlegable on uniforms might have a better idea on this).Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaspriter
as are this lot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Bren
on the topic of ammunition carring gear, this picture is the most surprising, that sure looks like WW1 australian leather pattern gear (patt 15) in WW2 front line service.
can you tell i've been reading up on .303 ammo pouches? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by 5thBatt
Henry, I think pics 1 and 2 are probably South Africans. Our 1937 pattern webbing was slightly different to the British pattern, and the pouches and gaiters look right for SA infantry.
Rob
For what it's worth, here's a comparison of all the Allied kit in N Africa and Italy
the MCRS Forum View topic - Allied Kit - North Africa
thanks rob. i guess i've got some more reading to do. :)
Some sailors with the Long rifle, occasion unknown, though it's probably some winning team. The sheet of paper it's attached to says " _ Cup Winners Mediterranean 1900, 1901 & 1902 (Sch_"
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Attachment 67537
A photo of Canadian Sniper Sergeant H. A. Marshall. One of my favorites. Taken from:
Wikipedia, (2015). Harold Marshall (sniper). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Marshall_(sniper) [Accessed 25 Nov. 2015].
Looks like he's got a Bren sling fitted too. Wise chap! Is that a knife handle on his left waist or a revolver of some sort. The Binos are UK No2 Mk3 so it's a 1945 picture. Rifle is a Mk1 and not a Mk1*. Pic presumably taken for his mum as nobody in their right mind would carry No36 grenades with the striker lever hooked over the belt.
Post # 130 I can see the chap rear left field looks to be holding a Thompson with a round mag also the compensator sorta stands out.
Post # 138 That handle looks like a Kukri perhaps he befriended a Ghurka you can make out the sheath going down his left thigh
Can't really tell but it almost looks like a Ghurka Kukri he's carrying. Isn't that the big curved scabbard?
It is a kukri. One conclusion would be that he 'procured' it whilst his regiment was serving in Italy along side an Indian unit. a kukri would be handy for a sniper for cutting foliage.
Not Indian but a Gurka unit.I would never call a Gurka an Indian with in ear shot or it could result in some very nasty reprecutions involving said kurkri and your family jewels.:yikes::runaway::surrender:
Sean6,
Many Indian units carried the kukri as well, and were very handy with them too. They still do carry them for that matter.
Best,
Richard.
For clarity, I should rephrase my comment to read, 'Indian Army formation'.
On the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 some of the Gurkha regiments went to the new Republic of India Army and some transferred to the British Army. For those that wonder, they were not in the British Army before, they were in the "Indian Army" a separate formation as it was constituted under the "Raj".
Talking to someone from Nepal recently, it seems the Indians are gradually taking over and quite deliberately. Apparently they have convinced themselves that the Chinese didn't knock them for six in 1962, thus it will probably be a surprise to them the next time as well.
Back to the business of "eye discs" etc:
Was there not a "clip-on" device that enabled an instructor lying beside a trainee, to see the sight picture of the L1A1?
I seem to recall references to a simple "beam-splitter" in my early days. Something similar was available for the M-16.
Never actually saw anyone using them, mind you.
You're right Bruce...... It was a little black cube thinggy that slipped over the top of the backsight leaf. The instructor looked into the small mirror of one-way glass and saw the firers aiming picture. The trouble was that you couldn't use the aim corrector thing when you had rifles with the double leaf backsights!
Attachment 67876
this looks odd to me. doesn't it appear as if both rifles cock left-handed? or am i missing something really obvious???
oops. my bad. somebody already mentioned it. sorry
The photo is printed back to front. The technical term for this, used in the high echelons of photography circles is 'ar5e-about-face'
Here ya go Bruce three from my collection left/center ones fit MkIII's gather the post one was for long shots (1800 ~ 2000yds?) the far Rt one was for the back sight on the No.4 clamping onto it on line with the rear peep hole allowing the firers view to be adjudicated by an experienced and suitably qualified shooter sergeant or such
Christmas at the front; a soldier with two turkeys walking through the snow. Photograph taken at Hesdin, 22 December 1917
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"A delayed action device, commonly called a drip rifle, invented by Lance Corporal William Charles Scurry (later Captain W C Scurry MC DCM) of the 7th Battalion, AIF"
100 years ago today (20-12-1915) the last troops were evacuated from anzac cove.
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The same view a century on. The boardwalk and guard rails have been removed and mature trees conceal the London & Middlesex clubhouse in the background
There can't be much insulation in those walls.
Givenchy, Pas de Calais, 1915.
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Using a sock with the toe cut off as an action cover in late 1914
Indonesian National Revolution 1945-49
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dutch soldiers, Solo, Central Java, December 21 1948.
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South Sumatra, Baturadja, November 1947
Couple of pics on a Spanish civil war fighter who forgot her mag! And British troops going over the top with duck boards and cold steel interesting to note neither rifles are cocked probably to stop an A.D and shooting your mate somewhere on the Western Front and all that kit would make it hard to be quite.
But then again there is probably that much going on with artillery and M.G's it would not matter besides the troops carried emergency rations as more often than not they ended up trapped in a shell hole out in no mans land at times until night came so they could get back to their own lines or even find them.
I noticed a cigarette in the chaps mouth on top of the trench not a real smart idea bit like being 3rd on a match at night time.
The chaps on the other side were known to melt away when faced with the Australians and fixed bayonets as apparently our troops were very good in its use on Gallipoli and the Western Front.
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Cleaning rifles with the 'puffing billy' Soyer stoves.
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Indian troops in the Middle East collecting bandoliers from the box.
It was a better bet for the Germans to "melt away" into the next trench-line back and then heave a LOT of nasty H.E. stuff into the recently vacated trench.
To this day, "FRIENDLY" position data, (and potential enemy "form-up" points), are always given to their supporting MGs, mortars and artillery. These "defensive fire tasks" enable beleaguered troops to call down Hell on their own position if things go really pear-shaped. Even a simple "shell-scrape" will offer some protection, even if a lot of that is "psychological". This practice continues to this day.
In the 1960s, the Australian troops slugging it out at Long Tan called in artillery on their own positions. Anyone lying on the floor of the rain-drenched rubber-tree plantation was in some danger. Anyone standing up / advancing into that position was in deep trouble from shell splinters and chunks of shredded rubber tree.
Nothing "pretty" about it at all.
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2/13 battalion tobruk.
i really like the telescope and stand in the background.
I think it is one of these.... Stand, Instrument, No21 MkV. Not sure about the telescope could be either Tel Sct Regt MkIIs or a Tel Sig (MkIV?)Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
Attachment 71397
Looking for a stand. :D:thup:
wow son, you have an impressive collection.
a telescope and matching stand is definitely on my want list. it just hasn't made it to the top yet.
bindi you have a pm.
Smaller scale but similar concept, had things go a bit wrong with an M67 Fragmentation Grenade on a live fire section attack range, a grenade came to rest 3m (12ft) from my position. It was flat ground with no cover, no choice but to stay flat and hope for the best, after what seemed like and eternity, the grenade detonated and the shockwave rolled past. No injury to me, I wasn't in the cone of fragmentation even though I was well inside the 5m killing radius of the grenade.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz
1940. Australian soldiers boarding a troop train in Liverpool NSW Australia.
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men of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry with Arisaka rifles. On the back is written 'Windsor 1915' and in a different hand BUCKS BTN. These are probably from the Territorial Force as some are wearing the Imperial Service Obligation badge.
Wow...... That's a '.....rather large' or what in these PC days we'd call 'formidable.....'S/Sgt sat next to the Capt (with Sam Browne).
What is the Imp Serv Obl badge Mk7?
You can see it on at least two in the middle row Territorial Force Imperial Service Badge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The NCO to the left of the officer seems to have a btn or coy best shot badge.
Or as one Army doctor called it, 'Well fed'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...asoldier-1.jpg
kokoda?
i'm glad it wasn't me lugging 13kg of lewis gun.
Oh Henry....... HE wasn't lugging 13kg of anything in those sensible days of Empire and all that. He was happily carrying a 19pound Lewis!
And...an appropriate number of loaded pans...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Attachment 76349
British troops getting water from a trolley railway, near Pozieres. October 1916.
Attachment 76350
Battle of Pilckem Ridge. Men of a Pioneer Battalion in light railway trucks and others moving away towards the line. Brielen, 31 July 1917.
Attachment 76351
Wounded from the 27th Brigade, 9th Division, prepare for a light railway journey from Meteren to medical units in the rear area, 18 August 1918.
I had no idea (till last night) how much of the supply lines in ww1 were comprised of light railway.
Thus the need for Railway Battalions.Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
I knew about the Royal Engineers Railway Operating Division running 4'8 1/2" trains but not the 2" stuff. I had wondered how they got all of the ammunition to the artillery batteries for the big barrages, but figured it must have been by horse and cart or lorry (truck).
QUOTE=Son;359755]I think it is one of these.... Stand, Instrument, No21 MkV. Not sure about the telescope could be either Tel Sct Regt MkIIs or a Tel Sig (MkIV?)
Here's one also
17-1/2 tripod with a Scout Regiment telescopes. . Stamped on one side of the metal clamp on the tripod that secures of the telescope is, Semins Bros & CO LTD, London, 1916, and a Broad Arrow and on the other side is TRIPOD TELESCOPE, No. 21, Mk5. (CIAI). (A Canadian stamp). It was an original made British long leg Tripod which was cut down shorter by a Canadian firm in WWII probably on contract for the British as it has the British broad arrow ownership stamped scope covers and a shorter carrying sling made specifically for the shorter leg tripod. The sling has a 18” canvas center section with leather end straps and is especially made for the shorter tripod.
[Attachment 76373
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ingcraft-1.jpg
British troops in a landing craft assault (LCA), 9 July 1943. (sicily?)
with full credit to the garand picture of the day for inspiration.
Illustrates the fact that generally speaking the war in the desert and Italy was generally fought with No1 rifles. A Bren and 3x Thompson guns there too including 1 loaded with the drum and gun cocked! The black circle looks like it's the censor barring out his rank and their division
Hi Henry. The light railways used to supply the front in WW1 are a study in themselves. I just bought a fascinating book on them dealing with the area North of the Somme, including Arras & thereabouts. Of course standard gauge railways brought the bulk of the stuff as near to the front as they could, & then a mixture of both 1 metre & 60cm narrow gauge systems got the men & materials to (& casualties from) the front. I think the most up front railways were of the 60cm type. I know very little about the subject but a 60cm Decauville railway line ran past the top of my garden in the little village where I spend a lot of time these days (Somme, not far from High Wood), & when renovating the house we found a sleeper from the track holding up the chimney breast! It sort of stimulated a fledgling interest in the subject!
My dad told me a story about a night action he had with an individual German, involving his bayonet. Other stories of that same time(Italy) described clearly that he carried a #1 rifle...as stated. I had no doubt. Later troops must have come equipped (#4 rifle) and then replacement must have taken place during rotation to the rear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
And look what's sitting on deck, the sore shoulder special, a few smoke pots and the top of a Patt.1151 compass.
A New Zealander poses with his sniper rifle in the ruins of Cassino, 26 March 1944.
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Source: COMMONWEALTH FORCES IN ITALY 1944 | Imperial War Museums
Lance Corporal A P Proctor, a sniper with 56th Division, cleaning his rifle, 24 November 1943.
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THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1943 | Imperial War Museums
One of the trials rifles that had been converted early on, and which were culled from the system in the 1950s.
They aren't new boys by the looks of it. The platoon commander (in the bow with binoculars) is armed with a rifle. Also, most of the helmets have been cammed up underneath the netting.Quote:
Originally Posted by henry r
Pic 185, what a nice rifle. Yes, a trialls rifle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mk VII
Shame it's still cocked Jim!
I wonder if the previous picture [A New Zealander poses with his sniper rifle in the ruins of Cassino] also features a Trials T? Is that wood relieved for cutoff and an early style cocking piece?
I'm thinking it would be on the front line...but this is likely just posed so...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I did see that though. Kind of opposite to the guy about to fire with the hammer down...
No sign of the butt marking disk, nor of the cutoff, though slot may be there. Possibly an early Savage MkI as they had the thick top band or at least some did, as shown in TBS p.247. Foresight protector could be the fabricated type shown in the same photo in TBS.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobD
Could also be an early BSA as the MkI forend & cocking piece were seen on a fair number of early non-trials rifles, both trials parts left over and sent to BSA and also some early production by outside contractors IIRC. For example am pretty sure SM made the waisted foresight protectors for a short time as well as the MkI cocking pieces.
Only way to tell for sure would be a closeup of the backsight relief cut: on the (Model B) trials rifles the cut was shallower due to the lack of the backsight plunger, on the Model C trials and all subsequent No.4 production, the relief cut was deeper and cuts through the right wall ahead of the sight axis pin hole.
