Article: 1944 Enfield No.4 Mk1(T) Sniper Rifle

[Badger]

You can view the page at https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...)-Sniper-Rifle

Information

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[broadarrow303]

Hi

Please let me know if you would some photos added of my unissued 1944 BSA Shirley No4 Mk 1 (T) in chest.
Cheers

Graeme

[Ngib]

I have got to admit the knowledge level on this sight is outstanding. I had an Enfield No.4 Mk1 (T) back in the sixties and I don’t have a clue what the stamps were for. One of my claims to fame is I was the last British soldier to be decorated for an action using this weapon. (Also possible the first with the L42) The last time the 303 rifle was used was in Aden during that last day of the withdrawal. We had a number of contacts prior mainly in the Crater and Ma’alla areas. This was either will FLOSSY or the NLF. My last operation was an OP on the Aden end of the causeway. The general was to hand over to the opposition In the middle of the night and we were cover. Nothing happened and we moved back to RAF Khormasksar where we hung around for a couple of day before getting the last plane. For any history buffs contrary to popular belief the last plane out was not a VC10 it was an Argosy. This took us to Muharraq in Bahrain. I used to carry my 303 ammo in an Arab bandoleer and we got on the plane fully bombed up. When we got off in Bahrain we were met by the ordnance guys who slung our Enfield’s in a pile along with any SLR’s or Sterling’s what were deemed not worth keeping. Also the 303 ammo plus my Arab bandoleer these were sea dumped. Our uniforms were burnt and we got a free pair of jeans and a heavy duty pullover. The old brown type; also a bottle of whiskey a leave pass and train ticket to the nearest station to what was down as your home address. That was the last time I saw a 303. I did get to keep the old blue training pamphlet as the weapon was to be replaced. Latter we did trials with the replacements; the best was a P14 with a Shultz Larsson barrel. We got the worst. Now for a question a few years later I got a letter from the adjutant of the Selous Scouts. One of the snipers a great guy called Clive Mason had transferred to the Rhodesian army. The letter explained he went out in a blaze of glory with his 303 TS. We could say Clive was the last. As for Peter Mason never heard of him, never heard of Baker Team and doubt if it existed. So who are you Peter???

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

@ Ngib, thanks for the comments. The board tries to be scholarly with a healthy side-order of practical experience. Your operational input is something sorely lacking in most military discussions. For the most part we are laymen who have come to this field of interest through routes not the least bit related to the actual firsthand use of our firearms. If a soldier tried to know everything; he wouldn't be doing the job he was trained for. One of the gents you name is also a published author and retired armourer (Peter), who chimes in here as the spirit moves him.

[Andrew from Perth]

I have a No.4Mk1(T).

This is the most useful piece of information I have been able to find on the internet.

Thanks very much for your efforts.

Andrew

[rdnelson]

This informations is still very useful and thank you for posting.

Ron