Interesting information

[CINDERS]

I am reading a book on the Australian Fighting 19th Infantry Battalion AIF 1915-1918 and have come across some interesting information that I thought may require some input from learned persons. I will type it ad-vebatim the year is 1916 and they have left Gallipoli they are now in the Suez Cannal Zone.

H/C 1st Ed 520 pages with an informational CD with the book in the back cover, this book took 90 years to put together as no one had attempted it and is made up from personal diaries and AWM information and from other sources.

From Page 73;
"During the first week in March the men of the 5th Brigade were among the first to receive new rifles as the older Mark III rifles (And bayonets with hooked quillion) were exchanged for the new model Mark IV rifles and Bayonets." The latest weapons were manufactured by Lithgow in NSW and whilst they were almost identical externally to the older rifle, they were superior in their chambering which allowed for the higher velocity round which made them even more accurate. The changeover caused some renewed interest and enthusiasm for range practices. The 19th was the first to make this exchange on the 4th March and the other battalions followed on the 7th March."

So is there a misomer here should it be the Mk III*, was there ever a IV Mk III also when did the Mk VII round become available to the troops replacing the MK VI as the authors mention neither. TIA

Of note the prior paragraph contained information of each battalions allotment of Lewis guns as they removed the Vickers to form brigade controlled machine-gun (MG) company.
Each battalion received 4 new Lewis guns and to form a platoon of an officer and four sections of seven men each.

Information

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