British Sniper pictures

[CINDERS]

Because we Australians live in a land that is 'UGE and most of us were farmers we often borrowed from our neighbours and they always knew where their item was they just had to come on over and pick it up as we were/are to busy borrowing something off someone else to return your goods.
Sorta long term you might say and this practice extends from the Boer war, WWI-II, Korea, Vietnam, Malaya or wherever our troops are stationed that they feel free to borrow from their neighbours station an item they require for their needs so it is not pilfering it is technically;

Justified long term lease on an item that is required by the unit to fulfil its obligation in remaining prepared and alert at all times, and to paint the red roo on the side identifies it to all Australians so that they can feel free to borrow it anytime they need it so you see it is instilled in us and we are taught this trait as children, I mean they did not spend anyone's money did they

[Surpmil]

An unidentified infantryman of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division calibrating his sniper scope while taking part in a sniping-stalking-camouflage training course, England, 23 April 1943. The man standing behind the rifle is the same one seen in another well-known photo probably taken at the time. That and the SMLEs in the background suggest they were "taking turns" with the scoped Patt.14 This rather begs the question of where the No4(T)s were going at that date since they obviously weren't going to the Canadian 2nd Division.


Pte. John Michaud of Quebec with his Sniper's Rifle.


Interesting that in April 1943 these Canadians were still making do with target sights on Patt14 rifles. Note that the rifle still has its butt marking disc so escaped the Weedon strip down.


Cruising through the archives it's amusing to note the disproportionate interest in and coverage of French Canadian units such as the Van Doos. This was part of the effort to make Quebecers feel like it was "their war" too. Didn't work out too well that.

[Paul S.]

As a guess, the No.4Ts were going to 1 Can Div who were to take part in the Sicily invasion.

[Surpmil]

As a guess, the No.4Ts were going to 1 Can Div who were to take part in the Sicily invasion.

Perhaps, but I imagine priority was going to the airborne formations, Commando's and Royal Marines, and perhaps to arming resistance movements. The Airborne formations had an issue of 36 rifles per battalion IRRC.

As for the Canadians, we must have been lower down the totem pole since that P14 with a Warner & Swasey on it was still being dragged around Italy in December 1943.

[Thunderbox]

If its 1943, then probably all of these photos are of troops going through various training camps. It would be perfectly normal for troops to go through such training with older "pool" weapons such as No1s. Ditto the No3(T) - if its a general fieldcraft course, then any old pattern scoped rifle would suffice. Trained divisions generally completely re-equipped shortly they were first committed to operations - eg most of the D Day forces received brand new weapons and equipment during their final preparation phase.

Its also very difficult to deduce anything from the Press caption that goes with the photo - just look how they mangle a description of a modern military photo! The target P14s in particular might just be basic acquaintance weapons to get the soldiers accustomed to the rifle before they move on to the No3(T) - or they might be nothing to do with sniping at all. Could just be some casual plinking on the range with some target rifles, and someone decided to dress up the photo caption a bit.

[Simon]

Just a personal preference but having put more than a few rounds through the 3T and 4T I'm inclined to think that the 3T is the more accurate of the two at least on a KD range

[flying pig]

Here's a few I believe are Canadian sniper pictures.

[Surpmil]

The last photo is an interesting one. Training in Canada as we know the remaining Ross-Warner&Swasey rifles were used until 1943/44. Condition looks very good indeed.

[Simon]

Looks to be a Bren sling employed on the Ross too

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Second last pic:

Vickers under a mosquito net?