WW1 photo

[Mk VII]

U S troops marching through London in August 1917, still with Krags.

Information

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[jon_norstog]

Mk,

That is a hell of a picture. I wonder what unit they were. Were they just formed up, or maybe a state unit ?

I assume they got P-17s before they went to the front. But maybe not? I've never heard of krags being carried into action by AEF regular units, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this one raises more questions than it answers.

jn

[andiarisaka]

That's not marching, it's a leisurely stroll, they're not even in step. Many of the fellows trained with Krags in WWI, some engineers were armed with them, up to the point of parading in France with them. At one point Alvin York's unit was issued British Enfields, had to trade their 03's for them when they were assigned duty with a British outfit, then get their 03s back a couple wks later, according to what I've read.

[sdkrag]

I always heard that York was issued a 1917 not an 03.

[andiarisaka]

I've read some of that, I think the man knew the difference. His unit trained with Krags, was issued a British Enfield for awhile in France, which he didn't like, pretty sure he'd have known the difference between a Springfield and P17. You got to remember, he was a proven sharpshooter, was probably allowed his choice, to a certain extent, of course he'd probably have preferred to keep a Krag!

[steved409]

Early 1903 equipment and I even see a round canteen!

SteveD

[Viclav]

I wonder if these guys are from the same unit? Identified in THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HANDGUNS as the first American unit to arrive in the UK in 1917... then again, the caption identifies the rifles as 03s!



Victor

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