When was the last L42 withdrawn from MoD service?

[Peter Laidler]

The last Lee Enfields....... There are still thousands of No8's in service still. Plus the occasional L59 DP No4 where Cadet Forces wish to retain them for reasons best known to themselves. That rifle you mention that was supposedly on a ship turned out to be a total load of twaddle too. They maintained that it had come from the Endurance where it was the line throwing rifle. But the Stores Officer from the Endurance was able to state that the line throwing rifle that he had on the ship and was responsible for was a special L1A1 that he distinctly remembered.

The very last service, full bore Lee Enfield in service that was still accountable and on the WOCS books as such was, believe it or not, a No1 Mk3 that is now at the Small Arms School at Warminster. But some still question this fact.......

We also had the very last two L42's that were in service too. They came to us from Ordnance in Germany in approx 2002 or so (I have the exact date somewhere) together with the confirming paperwork etc etc but it was well after the Ordnance stockpiles had been disposed of. The second L42 and CES was gifted to the NZ Army museum at Waiouru where someone 'ringed' it by putting in a fake and taking the real one. Sad but true