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Found a pic from an article about the Falkland Is campaign that isn't the subject here. I've found something you don't see often, an L34 SMG in open carry. The pic is supposedly an Argentine soldier with RMC prisoners but I highly doubt it. Looks more like an exercise with an RMC enemy force and his POWs. Some of you might know these guys...
It's the real McCoy BAR. David Howroyd, the Engineering Director at Sterling told me of their delight when they saw it in the national press.......... only to read the paper and discover that it was the Argentinian commandos that had them! Ours didn't have the woosy wooden fore-grip
they let prisoners hang onto their weapons??? :ugh:
A lot of the pictures on-line are staged, they are either "re-inactors" or "modern" propaganda photos.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Those pictures were on an Argy Falklands war "history" site...if you look closely at the "L1A1s", some of them show the early type (metric) bayonet lug on the barrel, and the "flash hiders" are not on straight.
Attachment 86197
One thing I remember about that conflict, as we were watching it closely from our battalion area...was the Brits wouldn't have been as clean as those guys are. No one was matter of fact. They were all living in the ground like rats...
It's often thought to come out with your weapon held high shows where it is instead of wondering...one wouldn't want to be flinchy though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Merle
I suppose no one brought you one back...? Just for yuks?Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I believe the picture was taken as the RM's file out of Government House after Governor Rex Hunt ordered the surrender. At the time it was the right decision, though I'll wager the Marines disagreed very strongly!Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
The point had been made, the Argentine forces had been "vigorously engaged" and any further fighting at that point would have lead to a totally pointless loss of life.
I wonder if those L1A1's are in an Argentine Museum somewhere? Any of our Argentine members know?
Certainly the first image is right as the Royal Marine's "had" to surrender on the 2/4/82 at Government House as Rex Hunt negotiated the surrender without their knowledge in some cases within Government House.
Yes they had their weapons, as this PR photo was taken at the time by the Argies.
The second image at thread #4 is without doubt Mickey Mouse, the lad would have been strung up wearing his 58 Patt webbing like that regardless
There is new book out (now or shortly) on the story of them Royal Marines, there was a two page spread about them in one of the papers and mentioned the book.
We have always had a Love Hate relationship RM V PARA Reg, but I have to say, a small nucleus of well trained men (regardless of their cap badge), which they were, plus a few sailors thrown in, as it was changeover time as it happened, did really well considering!!!!
Not much is ever spoken of the Charlie G being fired which took out a submarine by Lt Keith Mills and his 21 lads of the Royal Marines on South Georgia, plus a helicopter, and took on a warship as well, which did give the Argentinian Battle Group something to think about.
The boys did good................. but this image is always the one worth keeping. The two fat men doing a race around a Baghdad street, superimposed with the two best fighting forces heads....."please note who's in front" PARA Reg.....................this was our Christmas card for many years:lol::lol:
That pictures hilarious Gil .. and slightly disturbing! When you read the story of the 1st day of the invasion, it's little short of a miricle none of the Royal Marines were killed.
They fought hard against impossible odds.
It shouldn't be forgotten that the British Government of the day made the mistake of not immidiatly and aggressively condemning the landings on Southern Thule and South Georgia, added to this the prior withdrawal of the routine SSN patrol and the grim UK domestic situation, with industrial action and economic gloom.
All this combined made the Argentine Junta think we had lost interest in our South Atlantic Territories and we wouldn't fight for them.
A terrible price in young life was paid on both sides for that bad gamble!
And of course sent to the RSM of the Marines...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Attachment 86211
When you take a closer look at that pic, it looks like the cocking handle is forward.
Jim,
Of course as is in keeping with tradition, from one RSM to the other;)
Vincent,
The threat had deminished as Rex Hunt had surrendered, so It was more of a guard taking prisoners in for debriefing/and stripping. Once that was done, they were all sent back to the UK paid for by the Argentinian Government, to restock and get back into the fray!!
Looking for the book I mentioned, there is two out, The First Casualty and Too Few Too Far......
Geoff,
I knew that "old bridge" would come into it somewhere, alright we messed up, lets get over it:lol:
Nice one Gil, no mess up, it was what it was a "Bridge too Far", Brilliant film though when you think how many of the stars had seen service life and a few who were in WW2, there is a behind the scenes film of the film with interviews form the stars well worth watching, when you think 32 years earlier some of them were actually fighting on the side they portray in the film.
When I was looking for a Matchless WD 350 G3L, there was one for sale for some time (out my price range) that had been in the film....
I always say to people, the film too watch made in 1945-6 with the whole of Arnhem/Oosterbeek still in tatters, is THEIRS IS THE GLORY.
Every person in that film took actual part and were recruited to re enact the battle. The down side there are a few corny bits like "Hugh, take that PIAT and sort out that Jerry tank" and one liners like that, which were donw to the non actors to enhance.
It was however, a documentary come normal acting film at the same time, fairly unique at the time, directed by Brian Desmond Hirst, who spotted the young Roger Moore and set him off on the road of acting.
He also directed The Malta Story/Scrooge/Dangerous Moonlight and Hungry Hill, so he was indeed an acomplished Director when he did Theirs is the Glory.
There are more pictures on this site Sterling submachine gun Scroll down to see them.
There's even a Sub Machine Gun C1 9MM way down in those pics. Also a set of our mag pouches... Yes, more of the pics from the Falklands war...
Yes, two C1 SMGs. The one on the table even has the mandrels for the magazines. Also, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Crater (Aden) from the look of it? I couldn’t get the page to translate properly. There’s a beautiful Andrewski tube gun and a Mk5 with studs for a rail and drooped cocking handle. There are couple of Wise Lite Arms SBR’s (no bayonet lugs). One is interesting as you can see the muzzle flash and the bolt has only moved a little. I think the vertical magazine housing gun is also a WLA creation.