re : Canada aquiring more SMLE rifles

[x westie]

Did Canada have enough SMLE rifles in storage from WW1 to equip the troops when war was declared in 1939, or were more SMLE's acquired from Britian, as the Long Branch No.4 rifle was not general issue to 1943....

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[No4Mk1(T)]

AS I understand it (and I’ll happily stand corrected if I have this wrong) the SMLE rifles in inventory were reserved for combat troops with rifles like the Ross, Patt.14 and M1917 being used for training. After Dunkirk I don’t think the British were in a possession to give or sell any rifles to anyone until they were able to satisfy their own needs.

[Frederick303]

Canada sent something like 75,000 SMLEs over to England and replaced them with 80,000 Model 1917 rifles purchased from the US of A. This occurred in the June to September 1940 time frame. Eventually Canada purchased a total of ~100,000 Model 1917 rifles from the US @ 7.50 each. By the middle of 1943 ~75,000 out of the~100,000 Model 1917 rifles were surplus to Canadian needs, the Longbranch No4s being in sufficient supply to replace them. Post war the Model 1917 rifles were supplied to Denmark and Norway, as well as some being sold to the trade in the late 1950s.

[Mag Fed]

Yes, and to further Fred303's post, don't forget that the 1st Canadian Division deployed to England with the SMLE in '39. For all of the precise figures, see David Edgeworth's book (Defending the Dominion.....)! Well worth the read (no pun intended).

[Mag Fed]

Correction, it should read David Edgecombe's book......sorry!