Sht LE .303 dated 1909 searching to repatriate with owner/descendants.

[Arras1917]

Help request.

I've been asked by a local man who recovered this rifle in northern France if I can locate the previous owner or his relatives.
I have gone through the various processes of searching and found that the man named (John f Pritchard) married in Poplar, London in 1946 then lived at the address shown on disc until 1965 with his wife(Maureen Rosetta Pritchard - nee Marson) I'm stuck after that!
Seems likely that there is potential for ww2 connection as the British army was in this area 1939 to may 1940. I attach photos of the rifle. I would love to locate some history of its use and put the family in contact with the finder.
Many thanks for any advice.
David.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

I have a funny feeling that the extra numbers stamped above the crown (photo 3) are indicative of it being impressed into military service for the war. I think that Thunderbox knows about these marks. Interesting project.

[Arras1917]

Thanks Peter for that rapid response. All info helps, I can locate the various regiments that served in the area to narrow him down with that knowledge.

[Jollygreenslugg]

I'd be surprised if such personalisation of the stock disc would be tolerated in service.

[browningautorifle]

Interesting too is the amount of sanding the stock has had. The area around the disc is rounded and the forend is Beech with typical fish scale pattern. The edges of wood at the metal have been rounded too... Perhaps as suggested, it's been owned for time and them pressed back into service during the emergency, when the call for "Guns of all types, anything that shoots" came. What's on the other side of the disc?

[Roger Payne]

Agreed. The fore end is a replacement & the wood has been sanded. Is the original poster able to press the chap who acquired it for any more information on the rifle's history? Can we establish that it has been in France since the fall in 1940? I know beech woodwork became commonly used during WW2, but was it in general use in 1939/40? I'm not sure off the top of my head, but would have thought that most rifles would have had walnut replacement parts fitted at that stage. Just a thought.....

[5thBatt]

The marking on the butt socket looks like NZ markings, rack/inventory number over year accepted into NZ service, is there N^Z above the numbers?

http://www.armsregister.com/arms_reg...smle_mkiii.PDF

[Arras1917]

Thanks for all of the replies. I shall try and get more information about its origins. It was a field find as far as I'm aware, he most likely has cleaned it up himself perhaps?
I'll see what I can find out. Would be nice to reunite the family with the rifle though.
He just respects the fact that the British came over here and at such great cost.
+ I'm amazed at your level of knowledge.
Thanks again.

[Roger Payne]

Good. Please do keep us informed if you manage to find out any more.
Incidentally, I spend several months of the year about 17 miles to the South of you (Martinpuich) & on a nice sunny day greatly enjoy watching the world go by over a coffee at one of the numerous restaurants on the Place des Héros.

[Arras1917]

Will do Roger. We'll have to catch up sometime, we've probably passed each other over the battlefields or at ceremonies in the area. Regards David.