The very last vestiges of the Vickers and .303" Bren

[Peter Laidler]

The last piece of kit associated with the old and trusty .303” Vickers machine gun and Bren has been declared obsolete. This was the GAUGE, Plug, .306” No2 Mk1 part number B2/SM 75B. This gauge was used to confirm leed wear from the chamber to the bore to ascertain the remainder of safe barrel life for Vickers guns used for what we used to call ‘overhead fire’ These ‘OHF’ guns were used to fire over the heads of advancing troops and during what was called ‘battle inoculation’ of troops during training. The gauge was an important bit of kit for Vickers Armourers and inspectors at major workshops who overhauled the old Brens. It was concealed within an unscrewable 5/8" diameter two piece steel tube. The gauge was calibrated for length and diameter annually too. It could be used extended, by being reversed into the gauge cap to gauge-up a barrel out of the gun. Or, screwed into the bottom section of the case to form a right angle and so gauge-up a barrel fitted into the gun. Maybe someone with some photography skills could put one up for all to see.

The Vickers gun was declared obsolete in Britain after being used for the last time by Paratroopers in Aden and Gurkhas in Borneo in the summer of 1968 (yes, I was there and Summer/winter/autumn and spring are all the same except for the daily monsoon deluge……………) so how come this Vickers gauge has lived on for so long?

This same gauge was also used to ascertain remaining safe barrel life of those Cadet Forces303” Bren guns still in service into the 90’s. Recently a cull of gauges uncovered that this old pre-war gauge was still on charge at some of the major workshops and immediately declared obsolete – to be struck off charge. So at the stroke of a pen, the last vestiges of the trusty Vickers machine gun has been consigned to the bin. So if you have one of the gauges, take it out, give it a wipe with an oily cloth and put in a special place

But not QUITE………… Because the Small Arms School have retained several of these magnificent beasts that are used on special occasions and so far as I'm aware, I'm the last Vickers trained Armourer still in the Army system

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