1940 Naval SMLE Photo

**Lance** · 08-10-2015 07:32 PM

My purchasing dry spell continues so when a picture of one of my "most wanted" SMLE's came up I had to grab it as it might be as close as I get to finding one. From the age of some in the picture it appears to be a reserve unit.

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**Highly Recommended** · 08-10-2015 07:32 PM

A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered. Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping. In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail. I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!). CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping.

Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles.

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**Frederick303** · 08-10-2015 08:35 PM

That might explain the SMLE MK I found in Belgium icon

/France some years ago. Perhaps there were some naval units involved in the retreat to Dunkirk.

**Paul S.** · 08-10-2015 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Frederick303

That might explain the SMLE MK I found in Belgium icon

/France some years ago. ...

Was it WWI dated? If so, it might have been a remnant from one of the Naval Divisions that served on the Western Front. Then of course, there was the Zeebrugge Raid. Link: Warfare - Featured Articles - The Zeebrugge Raid

**Peter Laidler** · 08-11-2015 05:49 AM

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

**Beerhunter** · 08-11-2015 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

something "FORCE" ? I'm guessing it is a the equivalent of Red Forces and Blue Forces or our day.

**scoobsean** · 08-11-2015 08:31 AM

Burges? There was an HMS Burges that served in the Atlantic and English Channel late in the war:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Burges_(K347)

**Smellymarkfive** · 08-12-2015 07:36 AM

The photo was taken the day after Dunkirk ended, probably to show we still had people to fight invading Germans. Is that a Mk I with a charger bridge?

**gsimmons** · 08-12-2015 08:29 AM

It looks like a cond. MkIV

**5thBatt** · 08-12-2015 03:15 PM

Not Cond MkIV as thats a conversion to MkII pattern, looking at the nosecap of the rifle carried by the man being helped up the hill, the sight protector looks to be straighten so most likely MkII*** Cond.
page 469 TLE

**bigduke6** · 08-12-2015 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

Can't make it out but his mate on the right is a " Gun Layer 2nd Class"

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