for the HT buffs

[Peter Laidler]

Sept '76........., that's a late EMER for a No1 rifle. I have to say that in all my time in Australia, most with Infantry battalions, I never saw a SMLE sniper but did see a few SMLE's in the armouries that belonged to individuals, that I shot a few times - and a No4 that belonged to George Lendich. Where are you now George?

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.

[trooper554877]

Well there you go Peter,
never say never!!
We had the HT's up until late 70's early 80's when we took up the M84 parker Hale or really just a TX1200 militarised!
Have to remember as well that there was not much emphasis on sniping at that stage. Only a few qualified guys on establishment and never really used. Similar to what it was like at the start of WW1, than the need arose and it was advanced.
The Australians where in a rebuild, recovery stage in the late 70's from Vietnam and things like the spooky art of sniping wasn't considered neccesary in any great strength.
My how times have changed now!
I just hope someone gets some use out of the info!!
Cheers
NED

[Son]

do you remember where you got them from, Ned?

[trooper554877]

do you remember where you got them from, Ned?

yeah u wasn't it?


cheers
NED

[Son]

still trying to find the rest of a full copy... I do have a little more than that now..

The EMEI was re-introduced specifically for the HT's dragged out of storage to use for sniper training at Singleton, mid 1970's. They remained until the Parker Hale M82 was introduced.

Attachment 28393


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Below is a short email conversation with... no, read it and you will know the significance....

Message starts with his post to me, triggered by my survey which he found on Gunboards sniper forum
=============================================

Hi Mate,
I did my Snipers course back in 1978 (this being the third course run, first course was in 1976). When we started the course we were each given a rifle, mine was a new one that was made in 1916, they were not fitted with the tele sights at the time. The sight were bought out later in the day in a box, and everyone just grabbed a scope for their rifle, I cannot remember if anyone ended up with matching #'s. I was lucky in picking a low mount type as my rifle had the scollop in the wood work for the scope to clear when mounting in on the rifle. I know that some had high mount scopes on low mount rifles etc. I remember grabbing half a dozen of the screw on check pieces and put one on my low mount.

Hi, XXXXXXXXXXX
I'd be assuming that training was here at Singleton (my home town). I've managed to speak with one or two people who were around at the time, and they'd told me about mainly using the rifles to learn how to care for them, particularly the scopes, and fieldcraft. One bloke told me how they camo painted the rifles two or three times during their course, stripping it off at the end. I'd be very interested in any snippets you can remember from that period. Things like the rifles and scopes being mixed up at that point helps explain why almost exactly half of the 100 or so rifles in my survey are miss-matched. Hey, you wouldn't happen to still have those cheekpieces? I found my lowmount almost impossible to shoot with a standard butt. I fitted a short butt and it's a perfect fit to me. Couldn't use a cheekpiece, though. I still have one on a spare butt... never know when you're gonna need one.
I see you haven't posted on any of the forums yet. The Lee Enfield forum is a pretty friendly mob, some are a little thin-skinned but most enjoy a good yarn.

Thanks for contacting me. Keen to hear more of your expiriences.

Cheers,

Brad (Son)

Hi Brad,
Correct, did the course in Singleton (April-May 1978). On my course we had 30 starters, but only 5 of us passed the course. The rifle that I was issued with on the course was sent back to my Bn (6RAR), that was the standard practice if you passed the course. When it got back to the Bn it came with the muzzle cover, breech cover (all WW1 dated and brand new), Pattern 1916 Scout Regiment Telescope, sling. I remember that when one of the guys who did the first course in 1976 took his discharge (Wayne Brennen ?) we had a spare rifle to play with. We removed a lot of wood from the barrel knox to the muzzle to make the barrel free floating, drilled out the end cap and machined some of the foresight protector so it would not interfere with the barrel and bedded the front part of the action into the stock. Shot some beautiful groups with the inon sights, but only average with the telescopic. We did the conversion course for the Parker Hale Type 82's in Oct 79 and the were taken off us. I use to have some good photos of the 3 o's but they disappear somewhere over the years.
Cheers
XXXXXXXXXX

[trooper554877]

I hope you didn't mind me posting it. I had forgotten about until doing a clean up of the computer and thought it was relevant.
Would like to see the rest and glad you can put the story to it. Wasn't Bob peoples was it?
Another armourer guy who was on another forum was Euon Mcrorie, probably not correct spelling. He had some knowledge of the SMLE!!!.

Always great to heasr stories of what is now a forgotten era in singo. Last time I was there John lamb was curator of the museum which i thought had gone backwards. That is not a lot of weapons displays etc that used to be shown.

Anyway i digress, Thanks for not kicking my arse over posting something that is really your thunder mate.

cheers
NED