No4 MkI T

[Alan de Enfield]

It may be of no interest at all but my Local RFD gave me a call - he has just had the Police give him some 'old military' rifles that they have taken away from an owner.

Went to see them - they are a P14, 1918 No1 MK3 and a Savage No4 Mk1* and all are bored out to 410 and will be for sale in the near future.

Would a No4 in 410 ( on a SGC) be of any interest ?

[IanS]

Thanks to all you guys for such a great response. I really am grateful, any further comments on the photos would be welcome particularly comments on the front pad, I'm not seeing the obvious!!

One of his sniper sergeant buddies who also survived the war, has just turned 90 and lives on Vancouver Island. The 2 of them captured a heavy gun emplacement in Flushing (Vlissingen, Walchern Island) having put about a dozen rounds through the ventilation slits at 300 yards. The 6 man gun crew and an officer came out with a white flag. My dad had to shoot their German shepherd dog as it wouldn't let him into the place.

If there is anyone in BC, close enough to Barriere, who would care to call by with their No4 Mk1 T, I think my dad would appreciate the gesture. Also great to have a photo of him with the gun. He even might be prepared to fire it. He will no doubt offer some tips though.

Until I get a Lee Enfield, I won't have much to say, but I will be monitoring the forum.

Ian.
PS Sorry Alan, I forgot to say thanks for the offer of the 410. I'm sticking to 12 gauge thanks.

[Simon]

Ooh,

I could very well be in need of a 1918 SMLE, when and where are they likely to be on offer?

Cheers,

Simon.

It may be of no interest at all but my Local RFD gave me a call - he has just had the Police give him some 'old military' rifles that they have taken away from an owner.

Went to see them - they are a P14, 1918 No1 MK3 and a Savage No4 Mk1* and all are bored out to 410 and will be for sale in the near future.

Would a No4 in 410 ( on a SGC) be of any interest ?

[Badger]

Ian sent me couple of pics of his father referred to in this thread. They were taken 70 years apart and given the context of the thread, I thought everyone might enjoy seeing them...

So, with Ian's permission, I present...

Sgt AC Scott, A Coy, 4th Bat, KOSB.

Attachment 50781 ------ Attachment 50780
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Thank you for your service Sgt. Scott....

Regards,
Doug

[Alan de Enfield]

Ooh,

I could very well be in need of a 1918 SMLE, when and where are they likely to be on offer?

Cheers,

Simon.

You have a PM

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thank you for your service Sgt. Scott....

Regards,
Doug

Nice to put a face with the story, cheers indeed.

[Surpmil]

IanS if you could bring your dad out to Vancouver Island to see his old buddy, he might enjoy the trip. A couple of bottles of the good stuff on the table and you might get some history down on tape, if you're careful! Plenty of No4(T)s around these parts I hear, but a degree of caution is required because sometimes it serves only our curiosity to stir up the memories of the vets and brings them no pleasure at all. Quite the reverse in fact, and as much as we like to hear about these things, sometimes we just have to be content with the reminiscences of those vets whose therapy it was to talk or write instead of keeping silent.

Did your dad perhaps end up in Barriere as part of a need to 'get away'?

[IanS]

Hi Surpmil,

I think you've hit the nail on the head with regard to the reluctance to talk. You're right to a point on the "getting away" comment. My parents split up when I was little, dad remarried and they went to Canada in '51. He and a pal set up a plumbing business in Calgary. I think he had heard a lot about Canada from the Canadians he met, especially during the Battle of the Scheldt,

Which Gold Mountain is your location?
Ian.

[CINDERS]

A great save by milsurps again helping a person and stopping them from buying a dodgy do and wasting their hard earned money well done chaps

[Surpmil]

IanS, "Gold Mountain" is how the Chinese referred to British Columbia in the 19th Century, and perhaps more recently. In those days it was mostly a gold rush reference of course. I'm out here on Vancouver & Quadra's Island, as it was once called, surrounded in part by the Strait of Juan de Fuca who never set foot in this area! Your Dad came out at the right time. I sincerely hope you will have time to reconnect with him; there must be much more to say than Lee Enfields and the war. Carpe diem and best wishes.