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I thought Canada was the last country on the face of the Earth to issue Lee Enfield rifles which ended in 2021 when the last Canadian Ranger received his Tikka C-19 but apparently a Pakistani Drill team still uses them. This video was taken in 2022 at the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan. The last minute of this short video shows the Pakistanis drilling with Lee Enfield rifles.
Guards at India-Pakistan Border Perform Independence Day Ceremony - YouTube
These old service rifles keep cropping up. I've seen on several occasions, even of late, when news items showing VIP visits to Germany are shown, that the honour guards are toting Kar 98k's!
I can assure you, not all current serving Canadian Rangers have been issued their replacement C19 rifles as of yet so as far as I'm concerned the Lee Enfield is still in service in Canada in 2024.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapper740
They look much better for formal drill and welcoming squads than the dinky short ones which are common today. Add some history to the occasion too.
Do remember that, though they haven't been used as issue weapons since the '60s, M1 Garands are used by all the service drill teams in the U.S.A.as well.
Bob
The Argentine Navy Honor Guard was using Model 1891 rifles as late as 2009 and might still. That would have to set the record for longevity.
Yes, the Wachbatailion still use K98k's for the ceremonial drill's, as they still perform old Prussian rifle drill routines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Payne
Sadly, under pressure from German politicians back in the 90's, all their K98k's were all refinished to remove all traces of original Waffenampt markings and stampings from them.
I think they call that 'virtue signalling' these days, don't they?!:)
Last time I was in Athens in 2016, the presidential guards were still using M1 garands as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack
You would have thought that if they felt the need to refinish them to remove all the Waffenampt markings they would also have felt the need to change the appearance so it didn't look like a K98 anymore. They could have refinished them to look like a 1903 Springfield or possibly a P14 Enfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeeRam
I just saw the Wachbatailion and one of their marching bands perform and they were excellent. The German government banned all forms of the swastika from Germany. Our local Military Aviation Museum had a BF-109 G-4 fighter restored (parts from two aircraft that fell in Germany) by Meyer Motors in Germany. It arrived, perfectly decorated with the livery of a German ace, as requested by the museum, save the swastika on the tail. They had to apply that locally.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeeRam
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...AF8quKqQ-1.jpg
Bob
Bob,
Where is that 109 located? There's a collector named Timmerman restoring one in Chatham, Ontario at the airport. He has a number of warbirds in his collection. I went flying with a retired dentist and friend in his Champion Decathalon many years ago before he moved his aircraft into the hangers there. I'll surely visit the place again if I ever go back up there. I haven't been since 2017.
Brian
No kidding, I had no idea. Mind, I haven't been back since about 1990.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
Hi Jim,
Yep, He has a Harvard, Spitfire, P51, ME109, and Hawker Sea Fury that I know of. He's getting a Zero too from what I've heard. He's new to the area in the past few years as those warbirds weren't there the last time I visited. Quite a draw for the old hometown. If/when I visit again, I'll be out at the airport to snoop. My cousin who's also an aviation buff just retired from Chatham-Kent government last year, and I told him if he was smart, he'd be out there volunteering. He did get a ride in the Harvard last year after a small airshow they put on. My Uncle who's 88 now, built unbelievably detailed RC Harvards and is well known in the Province for them so my cousin was bound to get asked if he wanted to go on a flight. Lucky bugger!
Brian
I won't second guess the Germans for regulating Swastika use. That symbol brought their country to ruin. I don't collect Nazi memorabilia but I have some German bringbacks--trophies of victory as I see it.
I also have a few notes of Lagergeld--paper script issued for POW use. Brought back by my mom's stepdad from his 15 month stay with the Luftwaffe. Her own dad was KIA in a Marauder and is buried at Epinal.
One of my great uncles, my mom's side, is buried at Epinal. 314th, 79th ID.Quote:
Originally Posted by togor
To visit my grandfather's grave site would for me be a worthwhile reason to visit France, and risk whatever strike is paralyzing the country at the moment. I'll say this however for the French--the quality of their poultry is excellent.Quote:
Originally Posted by StratA
That aircraft is in the collection of the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA. They' got forty WWII aircraft, both museum restored and flying. They also have two original WWI aircraft and many replicas. The BF-109G-4 is in the barn right now having its Daimler engine rebuilt but there's an FW-190 (and a couple of flying replicas), a JU-52, an ME-108, an ME-208, P-51, FM-2 Wildcat, FG-1D Corsair, P-40E, Spitfire MkIX, Hurricane Mk XII, DH.98 Mosquito, P-39 Aerocobra, a PBY Catalina, PBM Avenger, B-25 Mitchel, C-46 Commando, Yak 3-M, Fiesler Storch, ME-262 replica, Boeing P-26 Peashooter replica, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (in restoration), an A6M Zero about to be delivered from restoration, and bunch more. They stuff them chock-a-block in their four hangars and to visit, you have to walk through the overlapping wings, tails, etc. You get THAT close. No barriers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
They've got a little running start in that the owner of the museum runs a chain of airframe and powerplant mechanic schools around the world. He also partners with restoration shops around the globe and exchanges work with them. His local operation has a repair and maintenance organization, the Fighter Factory, on-site and a school in the area. The museum is right down the road from me.
Bob.
There is a private army in Scotland that use MLM Mk1 &/or Mk1*s
Europes Only Private Army - YouTube
I love hearing about such arcane military history.
Trust Mr. Felton to dig out the details. Odd that he describes the Athol Highlanders at 6:00 as an "army", and of course it's a skean dhu not a dirk which is worn in the top of the sock. But then the gentleman is a Sassenach after all! :D
I think that he made a pretty good job of making the video and I also think that most of us get what he is trying to say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surpmil
He always does and we always do, or hopefully we all do. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk