Looking for WWI-era soldier experiences/thoughts on the SMLE rifles

[Richard Hare]

The books of Lyn MacDonald are very good for first hand sources. (1914, 1915, The Somme, etc.)

I can't quote anything precisely as it is a long time since I read them, but recall an engagement on the Marne I believe (1914) where a young lad gave his impression of his first engagement, the officer calling the range very coolly as the Germans advanced, "At 400"....".......... "At 300"......and then "At 200, ten rounds rapid! " The young man's comment was, "we just mowed them down like logs!, and I thought "What a marvelous army we are!:

This is likely a very poor version of the quote, so I will endeavour to find it for you. There are many in these books as she interviewed a great many old veterans.

Another later in the war, in Polygon wood, managed to bag 3 pheasants and seven Germans as they scooted across a ride, for ten shots. He gave his officers a brace of pheasants, and they didn't complain about his wasting ammunition!
The books I mention bring up many such endearing anecdotes.

Another in 1914, concerned confusion, where one of the battalion's best rifleman had been shooting at French Cavalry all morning, ...thinking they we German 'Hoolans' !!

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[Frederick303]

Macbride's book the "Emma Gees" (or something close) covers the Vickers in depth and the A Rifleman Went to War" covers the rifles in depth, both the SMLE and the Ross.

I seem to recall that Storm of Steel covers the German problems with the lange Gewehr (sights were sighted for 400 M minimum) and I seem to recall that that there is an account by a vet of the 27th US division, that was equipped with the SMLE and fought with a British Corp and had a fair bit on the lee Enfield and comparison with the M1903. I cannot recall the title but he was with an attached MG battalion, somewhere around 105 and I think the unit was from New York.

[Ridolpho]

"Gallipoli" by Peter Hart is very well documented with hundreds of extracts from personal letters and reports. There are numerous references to rifles jamming up solidly during the beach landings at Anzac, Helles, and Suvla Bay. Apparently even the relatively reliable SMLE didn't fare well upon immersion in sandy, turbid water. I notice that other books about different Great War topics by Hart are written in a similar style with abundant first hand descriptions.

Ridolpho

[browningautorifle]

I remember reading an extract from my regimental history in WW1 that spoke of a man that was knocked out during a shelling. He said "When I awoke, I crawled around until I found a rifle that worked, used it until it broke and then hunted another"... My question is what broke? How did THAT happen? It didn't say...just broken.

[30Three]

The biography of Harry Patch has some interesting info about the SMLE's in the trenches. For example: one of Harry's pass times, sticking a piece of cheese on the end of you bayonet; and when a rat starts nibbling it; pull the trigger!

[browningautorifle]

sticking a piece of cheese on the end of you bayonet; and when a rat starts nibbling it; pull the trigger!

Imagine trying to get some rack in a bunker and this going on? Mind you, I've seen the troops do some pretty strange things too...

[Paul S.]

Imagine trying to get some rack in a bunker and this going on? Mind you, I've seen the troops do some pretty strange things too...

I knew one with a particular dislike for rats who rigged up a trap for the buggers with the nerve gas Atropine injector out of a gas mask bag.

[browningautorifle]

the nerve gas Atropine injector

That would be the spring loaded self discharging one...nice...

[30Three]

Apologies Gent's! Just realised an error in my previous post!

The book is "Harry's War" the war diary of Harry Drinkwater. He is one of the few diarists to have continued writing for the complete 1914/18 conflict. (it was an offence to keep a diary). It is a window into the past. Well worth the read.

Harry Patch's biography "The last fighting Tommy" spans his whole 113 years; so not so much info of the SMLE, (but still interesting.

[can14&]

11 month 11day 11 hour by Joseph e persico, good ww1 book. Includes everybody