Pre Great War 1908-1914 Enfields

[P-07ShortLee]

Couldn't find much on the early use history of the SMLE, did it see much actual use prior to the Great War breaking out in 1914?

And what is the highest letter prefix used before then?

Information

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[Anzac15]

I believe I read about a British/Russian military involvement in Persia in 1910 some time ago. Anyone shed some more light on this?

[Mk VII]

There was the campaign against the Mad Mullah in Somaliland in 1914 ...

[barbarossa]

Some SMLE Mark I* rifles obviously saw service in the fighting in Kenya during the Nandi Revolt. There is a photo of the quintessential British imperialist Richard Meinertzhagen with what is obviously a SMLE I* hanging by its strap over his shoulder taken there in 1905. Meinertzhagen later went on to an illustrious career as a spymaster in the East African Campaign 1915-1916 against German forces lead by the Von Lettow-Vorbeck and was a major factor in Allenby's masterful 1917 victory over the Turks at Beersheba in Palestine during WWI, acheived by letting the Turks 'accidentally' capture the supposed plans to Allenby's campaign.

I highly recommend John Lord's book 'Duty Honor Empire: The Life And Times of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen'. A fantastic read!