Can anyone suggest sources of information about the Canadian Home Guard during WWI? The Montreal Home Guard, for example, equipped itself with Savage 1899 muskets in .303 Savage in 1914.
I have acquired a HG marked Mk. III Ross, and would like to be able to find out more about the HG, and particularly its use of Ross rifles.
If I'm not mistaken, once the Canadian military switched to SMLEs (1915), Ross rifles were still produced (1916), just not issued to front lines. I think these were marked HG for home guard use. I'd have to check my Ross Rifle Story book.
Also, the Ross was used in WWII as a Home Guard rifle. If your bolt is pinned, then for sure it was used in WWII as a Home Guard rifle. The Canadians pinned the bolts during WWII to prevent mis-assembly before issuing them.
This rifle is an untouched very early production rifle. Has the centre swivel, small aperture rear sight, stamped nosecap. It is HG serial numbered on the left breech of the barrel, in the same manner as the Ross sporters and private sale II** target rifles. Pretty sure it is 1914 production. I'll check the Ross Rifle Story, but I don't recall any reference to use by the Home Guard in WWI.
It is my understanding that the Montreal Home Guard purchased the 1899 Savages in lieu of either Ross or Lee Enfield rifles. The rifles are engraved with the name of the owner and 1914. I do not know if they were purchased by individuals or institutionally.
Home Guard Ross rifles were issued during WW II and most were issued around the Toronto and southern Ontario region. On the stock you will find initials and a number. GSW was General Steel Wares (they made tin pots ..helmets, among other things. You will also find them named (initialed) to power plants in the Niagara region. After the war, the Ross' were collected and given to the DCRA, Garrison Club, ORA and other shooting clubs. Many had PH 5B sights fitted in many ingenious ways to the receivers and stocks. I'll see if I can find my list of companies and power plants that received the Ross rifles during WW II
Most of the HG rifles are MINT !!!!!!
I would appreciate that. Has HG + a number on the right side of the butt, in addition to the serial number stamped in small digits on the barrel breech. It has no C/l\ marks, no roundel Quebec stamp, and no alpha-numeric + date serial on the butt. All early features, as I mentionned. It is mint, in and out.
I recall a story that the US complained about the aggressiveness of HG patrolling activities in the Niagara region.
There will be no standard Ross markings on the wood. The HG markings should be on the butt, but sometimes they are sanded out. If you can send me a jpeg of the butt stock: left and right maybe I can help you.
Cheers.
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