No.1 Mk.III* History

I know right, WTF is R005t3r doing in the Enfields section? Would you Enfield experts kindly inform me of the history of this fine SMLE please? The bolt matches the receiver, as does the nose cap.

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Nice piece, all Canadian marked too.

Canada purchased 600 second-hand Sht L-E's from British stock around 1926-7 for $16,000.

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Originally Posted by Surpmil

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Yes, thank you for pointing out the stock disc and cartouches. From what I can gather, it was taken into service on May 5th, 1925. It has the Canadian 'C Broadarrow' property mark. I was hoping someone on the Advisory Panel might know the rest; perhaps what the 'S' denotes.

Short butt; probably too short for most men today. Might be alright for women.

Deleted =wrong post

The short butt is really short.

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Originally Posted by Daan Kemp

The short butt is really short.

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LOP is 12 1/2". Quite comfortable for me. I'm not a big man.

Look up the fitment for the butt as there should be the smallest of gaps where it meets the wrist socket, as it is a wedge fit into it.
You can see the wood starting to chip off the edge that is contacting the wrist socket it will continue to do so unless addressed, Peter Laidler wrote a whole scad on the fitment on the Mk III's furniture.
If you could take a nice clear closeup of the disc I or another member will decode it but I see A.T.S 44 (?) so could stand for Air Training School but I'll dig out the books the top one I cannot readily make out.
Cheers.

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Originally Posted by Mk VII

Short butt; probably too short for most men today. Might be alright for women.

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Easily fixed by putting a slip-on recoil pad when shooting. I have long arms (appendages) and use them with all my rifles.

The slip on pads work really well.

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

I see A.T.S 44 (?) so could stand for Air Training School but I'll dig out the books the top one I cannot readily make out.
Cheers.

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i don't believe ATS would stand for "Air Training School" as cadet pilots in Canada during WWII progressed from EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) through SFTS (Service Flying Training School to an OTU (Operational Training Unit). Those destined to become mechanics and technicians attended TTS (Technical Training School) such as the one at St. Thomas, Ontario while RCAF clerks and drivers attended No.1 CTS (Composite Training School) at Trenton. Ontario. There was also No.1 ITS (Initial Training School) in Toronto, Ontario where cadet pilots learned drill, rank structure, dress, and deportment. I've scoured my books on the history of the RCAF and no reference to ATS found.

ATS - could well be ..........................

The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into the Women's Royal Army Corps.

The ATS had its roots in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), which was formed in 1917 as a voluntary service. During the First World War its members served in a number of jobs including clerks, cooks, telephonists and waitresses. The WAAC was disbanded after four years in 1921.

Prior to the Second World War, the government decided to establish a new Corps for women, and an advisory council, which included members of the Territorial Army (TA), a section of the Women's Transport Service (FANY) and the Women's Legion, was set up. The council decided that the ATS would be attached to the Territorial Army, and the women serving would receive two thirds the pay of male soldiers.

All women in the army joined the ATS except for nurses, who joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), medical and dental officers, who were commissioned directly into the Army and held army ranks, and those remaining in the FANY, known as Free FANYs.

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

ATS - could well be ..........................

The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into the Women's Royal Arm.

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By Jove man, I think you've got it! As you can see from the insignia, it is 'A T.S' It makes sense that it was taken into stores on May of 1925 and issued to the 'AT.S' in 1944. Furthermore the allusion to the stock length being fit for a woman, makes perfect sense in that case. Perhaps it was wielded by Elizabeth (kidding). I do miss her.

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Originally Posted by R005t3r

Perhaps it was wielded by Elizabeth (kidding). I do miss her.

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Assuming you mean Elizabeth (QE II) even as Princess Elizabeth she was a shooter of Lee Enfields .....................

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

Assuming you mean Elizabeth (QE II) even as Princess Elizabeth she was a shooter of Lee Enfields .....................

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Yes, Koenigin Elizabeth Alexandra Maria von Saxe-Coburg und Gotha. So hot. I feel dirty:nono:

Canada, unlike Australia, took home some of the rifles it had actually used in the trenches of WW1.

By late 1919, 67,000 SMLEs returned to Canada with the elements of the CEF heading home.

By the end of the financial year in 1921 another 49,000 Lee Enfield's were returned to Canada. There were sent due to the credit of the Ross rifles that Canada had exchanged for SMLES but left in Britain at the end of the war. This means that there was 104,800 SMLEs in Canadian possession.

Due to the relatively nice condition of the wood and non-original butt........I'd say this was one of the later SMLE arrivals as Canada wanted nice conditioned rifles as part of the Ross/SMLE exchange credit in 1920/1921.

"Advanced Training School" is another possibility perhaps, in regard to the BCATP?

The ATS were not armed, and were not supposed to have access to arms either.

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Originally Posted by Surpmil

"Advanced Training School" is another possibility perhaps, in regard to the BCATP?

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See my post above.

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Originally Posted by Mk VII

The ATS were not armed, and were not supposed to have access to arms either.

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Small arms maybe more accurate term as there were plenty of ATS Gunners operating anti-aircraft guns.

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

See my post above.

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Did you mean this one?

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

i don't believe ATS would stand for "Air Training School" as cadet pilots in Canada during WWII progressed from EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) through SFTS (Service Flying Training School to an OTU (Operational Training Unit). Those destined to become mechanics and technicians attended TTS (Technical Training School) such as the one at St. Thomas, Ontario while RCAF clerks and drivers attended No.1 CTS (Composite Training School) at Trenton. Ontario. There was also No.1 ITS (Initial Training School) in Toronto, Ontario where cadet pilots learned drill, rank structure, dress, and deportment. I've scoured my books on the history of the RCAF and no reference to ATS found.

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I very quickly found references to "Advanced Training Schools".