Christmas Came Early!!!

[bentwrench]

I just couldn't wait, this package had to be opened. I don't think I have had this much fun unwrapping a box since I was a young kid.

For some reason my wife wouldn't let me put it under the tree???

Information

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[Vincent]

Merry Christmas!!!! That's a nice one!

[Peter Laidler]

That's nice to see. I saw many hundreds of those boxes, all full (?) of magazines being shredded prior to disposal as 'classified scrap'. I sifted through thousands of magazines but very few original Mk1's or even early ones and only a few Mk1 boxes too.

What's interesting in yours Bentwrench is that it's a Canadian marked box (is it Canadian made?) with a TMS British made magazine. Were they all different manufacturers?

I did see several Bren mag boxes during another opportunity where the inside had been shortened with a plate spot welded across the inside - left to right. These were the original 'shortie' boxes made/converted for the shorter 7.92mm magazines. The spare parts wallet was/would be rolled up into the space between the separator plate and the box itself. Anyone seen such a box before.

When they were formulating the No1 rifle/L60 programme, we did a stock-run on the availability of No1 rifle spare parts still held at Ord. I did a sample indent and got a slab of bayonet grips. The UOI (unit of issue) was 10 pairs in a chocolate block fashion All wrapped, greased and multi packed in layers of greaseproof and this proof and that proof.......... in June 1944!

[browningautorifle]

All wrapped, greased and multi packed in layers of greaseproof and this proof and that proof.......... in June 1944!

And only unpacked by our hands now. It makes me wonder what shape things would be in that went to the bottom with convoys on the way over. All fully preserved...

[Peter Laidler]

There was a TV programme recently about the wartime shipwrecks off the Northern Ireland coast. Plenty of Sherman tanks still chained to the decks after 70 years and some that have since toppled off, over the sides. Some heavy vehicles too. But tanks readily recognisable. Also some wood crates that are just about perished containing heaven knoiws what. Some lend-lease Catalinas still leaking oil in Lock Erne much to the annoyance of the Irish fishermen

[browningautorifle]

some wood crates

I guess we better go get those?

[tankhunter]

Oh, The thought of Mint Thompson SMGs laying at the bottom of the ocean in Pres. Is exiting!..............There is a Liberty Ship called the Richard Montgomery, laying VERY close to the shoreline at Sheerness, on the isle of Sheppy in Kent. You can see the masts rising from the depth at all times from the shore. At low tide you can see the bridge & more detail also. It is full of live ammo in trucks lashed on the decks as well! There have been two attempts postwar to clear it's 'cargo'. resulting in the deaths of Two divers. so the policy is, leave it alone to rot away completely! Well, we all are aware of how the inside of an airtight shell looks as good as new when opened! Makes you think, dosent it?..............

The ship was sunk I believe, when attacked by Enemy aircraft as she approached port at Sheerness. When you think, she sallied safely across the Atlantic Ocean, & ALMOST made it to port by Half a mile to go!.................

I used to live on the island as a kid, & still do visit in the summer. I take a pair of good bino's & always check on the Montgomery from the Shore!

[browningautorifle]

Makes you think, doesn't it?..............

Yes, it always has. Two men down...well, maybe it should be tried again. Maybe differently. Problem is, imagine the government panic when 5000 x M1 Thompsons suddenly appear. With issue scale...

[Brit plumber]

Oh, The thought of Mint Thompson SMGs laying at the bottom of the ocean in Pres. Is exiting!..............There is a Liberty Ship called the Richard Montgomery, laying VERY close to the shoreline at Sheerness, on the isle of Sheppy in Kent. You can see the masts rising from the depth at all times from the shore. At low tide you can see the bridge & more detail also. It is full of live ammo in trucks lashed on the decks as well! There have been two attempts postwar to clear it's 'cargo'. resulting in the deaths of Two divers. so the policy is, leave it alone to rot away completely! Well, we all are aware of how the inside of an airtight shell looks as good as new when opened! Makes you think, dosent it?..............

The ship was sunk I believe, when attacked by Enemy aircraft as she approached port at Sheerness. When you think, she sallied safely across the Atlantic Ocean, & ALMOST made it to port by Half a mile to go!.................

I used to live on the island as a kid, & still do visit in the summer. I take a pair of good bino's & always check on the Montgomery from the Shore!

I did my EOD course down there and I remember them saying that if that ship went up, it would take half the county with it! They conduct regular surveys on it to check on the state of the cargo, one day something is going to happen one way or the other.

[Peter Laidler]

I knew a list X company who had a helicopter and the main man flew me over the ship for a jolly one day. It's in two parts and clearly visible. It can't be too hazardous as a few years ago some scrap men went on board and stole all the brass fittings.

I wondered why PIRA didn't mortar it. A few 81's from a dug-in tube vietcong fashion and.........