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

[Rusty.303]

G'Day all, I must say I am enjoying the thread.
A bit off topic but anyway.
My neighbors father is 96 years old, he fought in Greece in WW2 when the Germans invaded.
He narrowly escaped with a few others by requisitioning a small boat, rowing to where they were randomly picked up by an allied destroyer.
Before this they ditched the rifles minus mag and bolt.
He told me about 6 months ago that when he reached home questions were asked about the his rifle, he told me he was going to be charged for the rifle until he produced the mag and bolt which he still had.
The sharp old bugger still remembers the rifles serial no.

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[Beerhunter]

My neighbors father is 96 years old, he fought in Greece in WW2 when the Germans invaded.

Even further OT (perhaps) there is an old boy (at least there was a few years back) who lives in the centre of Crete. IIRC he was about nine years old when the Germans invaded in 1941. Being that kind of boy, he started "picking stuff up" and has been doing so ever since. So he now owns one of the best collections of German and British Commonwealth kit on the island. (Bits of Ju52, gliders & tanks, guns, radios, etc.) It's mostly in a dreadful state but it is worth a visit.

BTW, if you visit his "museum" and you have a British or antipodean accent you will be treated like a king, I was. Many Cretans believe that the Greek Government left them in the lurch and the British Commonwealth soldiers did their best to protect them from the Germans. Additionally, the Cretans felt that they did not have the means to defend themselves and so after the war, lots of German weapons were "picked up" by the locals and secreted away "for the next time".

[browningautorifle]

when he reached home questions were asked about the his rifle, he told me he was going to be charged for the rifle until he produced the mag and bolt which he still had.

That's very interesting. And makes perfect sence as to why no bolt and mag in the found rifle.