Bren at War

[Luis Bren]

I would like to share with you some photos and exchange data and comments.
The photos are from Imperial War Museum Collection



Object description
A member of No. 9 Commando at Anzio, equipped for a patrol with his Bren gun, 5 March 1944.



Object description
A Bren gunner of the 8th Royal Scots at Moostdijk, 6 November 1944.



Object description
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA
A soldier working on a Bren gun at a field armoury in the desert

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.

[Peter Laidler]

Note the Mk2 butt on the Mk1 Bren, picture 1. I do trust he's not going to shoot it from the waist/hip using that carrying handle. Within a few seconds and a few bursts, the gun will be dragging his arm from the socket! Photo 2 shows the correct way to hold the gun. Later bipods too

Picture 3....... Can't really see what hye's doing that wouldn't be FAR easier if he took the gun off the tripod. Looks like he's 'fixing' the barrel locking nut. But dodgy pose....., under a cocked gun with a mag fitted. Recipe for a mouthfull of hot brass if you ask me

[Luis Bren]

Object description:THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA
Private Edermaniger mans his Bren Gun at an outpost in the 5th Indian Division's lines at Surabaya (Soerabaja).



Object description:THE BRITISH ARMY IN BURMA 1945
Fusilier McCartney, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, armed with a Bren gun near Pyingyaing, between Kalewa and Shwebo, January 1945.



Object description:TERRITORIAL ARMY TRAINING
A Bren gun team of the 16th Airborne Division (Territorial Army) prepare to open fire from the edge of a wood during Exercise King's Joker at the Stanford Parachute Training Area.

[Peter Laidler]

Last photo. Note the .303" 'masher' barrel/muzzle end used when firinf bulletted blanks. If ever there was an item fraught with dangers, that barrel was it!

[Luis Bren]

Object description:THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA
Private Edermaniger mans his Bren Gun at an outpost in the 5th Indian Division's lines at Surabaya (Soerabaja).

Rare sling?

[Brit plumber]

Rare sling?

No, its 2 rifle slings, 1st has one end looped back on its self through one Bren sling clip from the butt with the other end just looped back. The second sling has passed through the other clip on the bipod and both brass ends of the sling are attached to the 1st sling. If I was home i'd demonstrate.

Did you notice the Bren Mk1 in the 3rd photo (first lot) is an intermediate gun.

[Luis Bren]

its 2 rifle slings

Good eyes! Thank you for you comments!

[Peter Laidler]

I've lost a nights sleep here BP........... How can you tell from this side that it's an intermediate Mk1 - 1A. Unless you can or can't see the Enfield/crown/14xx logo? Some were very lightly engraved. Incidentally, it took 12 minutes to engrave that logo. No wonder they deleted it as timewasting from production. That logo was a part of the licensing agreement and that's why the word BREN had to remain even though it was pretty obvious what sort of gun it was! And that's why the abbreviated form was moved to the other side! Phew........ what a xxxxing palava!

[Luis Bren]

Object description:THE BRITISH ARMY IN TRAINING IN BRITAIN, 1944
Private J Burroughs enjoys a cigarette.



Object description:ON BOARD A BATTLESHIP, NOVEMBER 1942
Sailor wearing a steel helmet, carrying a Bren gun.

[Vincent]

Attachment 46306

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in North Africa.
(My father far right)