Peter Laidler where do I find period photos of the Lanchester smg.

[drm2m]

Peter, I own your book The Guns of Dalgenham.
Where might I find period photos of the Lanchester smg.
I am looking all over the Internet and I can't find any.

Thanks,

David

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

First, using the internet, is a disaster waiting to happen so far as photographs are concerned. If you pick them up, that's the lazy way because they've already been seen by hundreds of people and these people, who are buying or reading your book don't want to buy or re-read rehashed stuff. Additionally, you'll just use the same captions too, that have been known to be not only wrong, but HORRIBLY wrong

You have to use your imagination in the first instance by asking who were the most prolific users of these things and foir the Lanchester, my idea of this would be the Royal, Australian, NZ and Canadian Navy from the mid 40's until the early 70's. Most of these ex service organisations have a veterans magazine or organisation or newsletter. A letter to the Editor PLUS a substantial donation, up front, without predjudice of, say £25.. (anyone not wanting to do this then read no further.................................) included

Got this far then.......? Ask him if he'll publish your letter that if anyone has a photograph of any veteran reader using a Lanchester during his service would like their actions recognised in a book (or whatever it is....) would they be prepared to allow the photo to be used. Additionally, every single penny of expenses will be reimbursed PLUS the original photo PLUS a highlighted copy of the photo by return.

That's how I've done it before. There will be other methods but if you write to museums, you'll get the same old photos.

You are about to see some STUNNING, original wartime photos of the Bren in action in the forthcoming Bren book - in the Advance across Europe, including one taken with the camera looted off 'an enemy' the day before

[drm2m]

Peter,

Thanks for your comments.
The only period photos of Lanchester smgs are the two found in your book.

My Internet efforts have not turned up anything so far.
I will keep looking never the less.

I found this photo caption interesting in your book.

David

[drm2m]

Peter,

The photo shown above from your book is of MGB 643 (Motor Gun Boat 643)

Shown below is a photo of Motor Gun Boat (MGB 673) found on the Internet.
Would this be the same design of boat as shown in your photo?
This is not a Lanchester question, but one of curiosity as to the type of boat (crew) that might have used these Lanchesters.

I don't know anything about these Motor Gun Boats, but I suspect there is some interesting history attached to their activities during the war.

David

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know a thing about the Navy or ships except that I went on an Australian Submarine for a days jolly once, out and up to where the two battleships were sunk

[drm2m]

A couple of photos of Lanchester SMGs that came from different sources.
The second sailor has two Lanchester SMG magazines pouches....300 rounds if both pouches are fully loaded.....quite a lot of fire power.

David

[drm2m]

The origin of the British Lanchester SMG.

The Lanchester was a submachine gun used by the British during World War II. In 1940, with the Dunkirk evacuation completed, the Royal Air Force decided to adopt some form of submachine gun for airfield defense. With no time to spare for the development of a new weapon it was decided to adopt a direct copy of the German MP28II, captured examples of which were at hand for examination.

Here is what the MP.28.II looked like, and shown below is a photo taken during the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Comments from the Norwegian fellow that sent me this photo.

"As a thumb rule all Polizei units were considered as part of the SS. But the police units used in the Warzawa uprising was mostly special SS units, like the Dirlewanger unit, SD and death camp guards. These rather mixed units didn't get first hand pick of guns, which explains the very mixed assortment of guns in the pictures!

That is the MP28II, yes. All the "soldiers" on this photo are
policemen or Sicherheitsdienst (SD)."

Photos of a very nice MP.28.II from another forum.
This collector is from Brazil.

A possible magazine pouch for this gun.
This pouch belongs to a collector in Norway.
Note;
See the death head marking on the second photo below the closure strap.

[Peter Laidler]

DRM's photos (above) shows the dangers of using photos lifted from others and using the same captions. I seem to recall that the first photo appeared in a reactors magazine and was posed. Quite when I'm not aware but there was some comment that it was during the 70's when the reenactor movement first started to appear. And the second picture, it depends on whose caption you believe. Canadian Navy, British Navy at Liverpool, rescued German aircrew, Uboat crew............... It's a simple matter to find originals (but getting harder now that the old and bold are leaving us) but the Lanchester was in Navy service until the last went in 1978.

As a matter of interest, anyone care to tell us with a good accurate guess when the last left the Canadian Navy? Australian Navy? NZ Navy? I know that they were still on Aust ships/submarines in'68 and definately on RNZN Ships (Royalist/Blackpool) in 68/69 because we picked up two or three of them from Devonport during a days jolly

[drm2m]

A few more photos of this Lanchester.



Peter this was the photo you used in your book.....one of the only period photos that I have found....I am still looking.

It came from an interesting web site with a great story of these MGBs (Motor Gun Boats)
and the WWII chapter of their role during the war.

Motor Gun Boats of WW2 - a particular story of a brave man


19th Flotilla MGB 643. Vahti Bay Turkey 1943. Boarding party soldiers are carrying Lanchester SMG’s.



David

[Peter Laidler]

Photo and caption lifted straight from my book................. They used to call it plagarism but what the heck