SMLE found by an author researching the fighting and retreat to Dunkirk

[Beerhunter]

1) It has the magazine cut-off, that was pulled for land service in what, 1915/1916? If it was in the British Army or RAF in 1939/1940, why would it have the cut-off still in place? That seems to imply to me it was lost relatively early in WWI.

The magazine cut-off was restored between the wars so there is no reason why it could not have been with RE or RASC soldiers in France in 1940. Thge volley sights are another matter of course.

Having said that, I go along with Brian here, soldiers like RASC rarely needed their personal weapon and so it makes sense to issue them older kit. That goes double if they were also TA.