the old wartime photos thread

[Mk VII]

His Majesty the King with General Pershing inspecting US troops, presumably brigaded with British troops as they've been given Short Lee-Enfields.



Everybody seems to have a .45 as well (or at least the mag pouch for it)

Information

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[Dimitri]

They were probably either the 27th and 30th Divisions as they were sent to fight along side Commonwealth troops in Spring 1918. Could seem they all have a 1911 Colt Handgun because only the officers were at the inspection.

Dimitri

[Tom in N.J.]

I see they kept their M1907 slings....

[Mk VII]

D Coy, 6th Durham Light Infantry in the trenches near Ypres on 24 May 1915

[PeterN]

This is my wife's great grandfather, William Walls who was a fatal casualty at Loos in 1915. He was really too old to enlist but he lied about his age to join up. He left his wife and several children behind.

WALLS, WILLIAM Private 14646 27/09/1915 aged 46 West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) United Kingdom Panel 39 and 40. LOOS MEMORIAL

Regards
Peter.

[Alan de Enfield]

The remains of 20 British First World War soldiers discovered near Arras, Northern France. Archaelogists unearthed the corpses, which were lying arm in arm, at a construction site for a BMW factory. The men, who were killed on the 9th April 1917 were from the 10th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment, known as the "Grimsby Chums". Picture courtesy of The Independent 20th June 2001.

The Grimsby Pals, who were part of 101 Brigade, 34th Division had followed the Cambs Suffolks into the battle on the 9th April 1917. The two Battalions invariably fought together. Indeed on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme, the Cambs Suffolks had followed the Grimsby Pals into battle - Both Battalions suffering horrendous caualties.

[Viclav]

D Coy, 6th Durham Light Infantry in the trenches near Ypres on 24 May 1915

Are those Long Lees stacked against the trench wall at right?

Victor

"Always carry a firearm east of Aldgate, Watson."

[Paul S.]

His Majesty the King with General Pershing inspecting US troops, presumably brigaded with British troops as they've been given Short Lee-Enfields.



Everybody seems to have a .45 as well (or at least the mag pouch for it)

WWI British and Empire infantry is my particular interest, but I believe your average, 'box-stock' American infantry O.R.s & N.C.O.s carried both 1911s and rifles.

Those blokes are not officers since they are wearing canvas leggings and webbing. American officers wore what Pershing has on.

It is interesting that no shoulder patches are visible. Marines possibly?

[Bolo Badge]

I believe the soldiers pictured are either members of the US 27th (NY NG) or 30th Division (NC,SC,TN NG). From their arrival in France in May 1918 both divisions (less their artillery) were attached to the British Army for additional training. Subsequently assigned to the II US Army Corps they fought with the British 2nd or 4th Army until the armistice. With the exception of their personal side arms both units exchanged their US M1903 rifles for the British SMLE rifle (later known as the No 1 Mk III). They retained their US cartridge belts,etc. The cartridge belts shown (with a pistol pouch attached) are M1918 Cartridge Belts (Mounted). These would be issued to infantryman also armed with pistols (i.e. NCO, honor guard).
A good source of additional information regarding US forces that fought with the British Army is "Borrowed Soldiers" by Mitchell A. Yockelson, 2008.

[Thunderbox]

Yes - Long Lees still appear in photos of front line troops as late as 1917. They seem to have been retained by some units out of choice.