1GBWY Ross

[Echo Bravo]

Hi everyone...

Can anyone help me figure out what 1GBWY is? Post war unit?



It's on a MkIII Ross... 1916 manufacture... 15Bn CEF...

1GBWY is stamped on the butt... and on the butt plate...

Google has turned up nothing... any thoughts?

EB

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[Surpmil]

Are you sure it is not "1GRWY", which I would guess is something "Railway"? That line at the bottom of the B/R looks out of place to me; too long and too deep.

[Echo Bravo]

HI,

Thanks for looking at this for me...

No... it's a B... here it is stamped on the butt plate

EB

[boltaction]

Stamping on the buttplate is a more British habit than Canadian. Given the rifle shortages in WWI, one would wonder if this might have been issued to something like the Garrison Battalion of the West Yorkshire (Prince of Wales Own) in say 1916/1917 after the Rosses were pulled from active front line duty? Just a thought. Garrison or maybe guard issue would seem a good use for a rifle not on front line duty?

Ed

[Echo Bravo]

You've got it!

Thanks for the reply... I appreciate it...

So I took the theory, and e-mailed a couple photos to the curator of the Prince of Whales' Own regiment museum. He confirmed your theory and the stampings.

This was his reply:

"The 1st Garrison Battalion of The West Yorkshire Regiment was formed in 1915 and therefore I would think that your guess is correct.

As an aside, the WEST YORKS were the 14th Regiment of Foot of the British Army and during the Great War were at one stage billeted alongside the 14th Regiment of the CEF, the Royal Montreal Regiment. An affiliation was set up which still exists today.

Regards"

Thanks again

EB

[boltaction]

Cool! Glad to help. I wish I could come up with an answer on a couple of my own now! BTW, as I am sure you know, that's a very nice rifle, with exceptionally clear markings--usually the buttstock marks on the CEF issued rifles are pretty worn and dinged. Definitely a keeper, especially with the extra little bit of issue history to it! Congrats on a really nice find. If you ever decide to sell it, let me know

Ed

[Echo Bravo]

Thanks for the help. It is a very nice rifle that shoots well too