L42A1 transit chest mystery markings

[gundoc2112]

Anyone in forum land have an idea what 'SP/R' in a yellow square and '5/7' in a red square mean?

Thank you in advance for any leads on this.

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[chosenman]

I was always of the belief SP/R was Support Company Rifle and 5/7 was indication 5th rifle of 7????????

I've also seen B on a lot of cases and I believe this indicates the contents is a B type weapon.

[browningautorifle]

seen B on a lot of cases

Our rifles were B class stores... The rest of your explanation sounds plausible too.

[chosenman]

I've seen Unit Identification Number lists for the L42 which at the end of each entry have B Type entered.

[Mk VII]

I'll take a guess that 5/7 is the unit ident number. Ours was 49/8, the 49 was 49 Brigade, presumably the 8 was unique to the btn.

[chosenman]

I'll take a guess that 5/7 is the unit ident number. Ours was 49/8, the 49 was 49 Brigade, presumably the 8 was unique to the btn.

Definitely not the UIN, The L42 UIN all begin and end with the letter A and have a four digit number 3 RGJ's for example is A0603A

[chosenman]

I've been meaning to do this for years and after seeing Gundoc's results I thought I'd get my finger out. The markings on the lid were splodged out in the typical fashion, first in thick white paint then again in black.
I know the rifle to be a former 3rd battalion Royal Green Jackets rifle as the UIN number is present on the chest, however imagine my surprise when all was revealed.


The EX PJW refers to a well known exercise called Pond Jump West which was carried out in Wainwright, Canada. I can only conclude the second battalion who at the time were just down the road from the third battalion in Warminster were preparing their L42's for the exercise on the range and suffered a break down and borrowed a rifle from the third battalion. The very nature of the markings make this in my view plausible as it wasn't at all common to mark the name of an exercise on a transit chest.

[browningautorifle]

a well known exercise called Pond Jump West which was carried out in Wainwright, Canada

Been there, done them.

[Peter Laidler]

The UIN relates generally to the unit - as in Unit Identity Number as in A01234-A as CM says above but not to the L42. I have never heard of a rifle as being a B item because many stores items are classed as B items in accordance to their Stores Identifiers. Small arms were generally known as WOCS and later as SSR and always marked on the big green air movement labels as a big star indicating a 'STARRED ITEM' which any ex crunchie will have nightmares about loosing! I can't think of an answer to the 5/7 unless there was a 5th Brigade somewhere......... I can't recall one!

[Thunderbox]

I can't think of an answer to the 5/7 unless there was a 5th Brigade somewhere......... I can't recall one!

It is (or was) a 5 Airborne Brigade unit. I can't remember who 5/7 was (pretty sure it was a Para bn), but my own unit was 5/14 at that time.