An interesting scope combo.

[Surpmil]

The UK 3x was this scope, in an earlier version.

It's actually a very nice scope, lovely clear optics, good positive click adjustment and they fall very naturally to the hand, so you can zero without breaking your aim.

Had it been boosted to X4 with a slightly larger field of view, it would have made a good No32 replacement...

That said, when the decision was made to go with the L42, why fix what isn't broken?

The No.32 Mk3 was an antique by 1970, albeit a strong and reliable one. A lighter, brighter and higher powered or even variable(!) scope would have been more effective and also reduced or eliminated the failure of the pads due to the excessive recoil forces of the No.32.

But if they couldn't be bothered to replace the butts with something more user-friendly, they certainly weren't going to bother with a new scope.

Still mounted arse about face on the top cover or is it me?

No, it's the lens hoods that cause the confusion. The long hood is apparently slotted to fit over the front of the mounts, and this illustration shows the short hood for the ocular lens which was missing from the previous image(s).

The arrow indicates where I believe we can just make out the edge of the bead on the opposite side of the slot.

The long hood shown above fitted to the ocular end is clearly not the same type: no bead and no slot, so either a service replacment of the short hood or a civilian addition.