SMLE found by an author researching the fighting and retreat to Dunkirk

[enfield303t]

Come to think of it I have no idea what the law here in Canada would say about a gun in this state

Ridolpho, I think it would still be considered a firearm even in its detoriated condition so as long as you had a PAL you could own it. Seeing as the Long Gun Registry is gone the hassle of trying to register it does not exist any longer so trying to find the serial number would no longer be required.

Can you imagine before the LGR ended trying to convince someone from the CFC youi can't find the serial number as the condition of the gun makes it impossible. I had enough trouble trying to register a Lee Enfield that according to the person at the registry should have had a letter prefix which it didn't.

I would love to have a gun like that, just think of the nights you could sit before your fireplace trying to imagine the stories it could tell if it could speak, or for that matter who carried it.

[Brian Dick]

For those of us that enjoy history, it's endlessly interesting that items like that Sht. Mk.1 are still being found. It makes me want to get over there again so badly. My days with DRP and friends in France a few years ago were one of the highlights of my life!! My relatives fought there. My Great Grandfather was RCAMC during WW1 and two of my distant cousins in WWII. Both are still there. One at Dieppe and the other in Antwerp.

[P-07ShortLee]

The magazine cut-off was restored between the wars so there is no reason why it could not have been with RE or RASC soldiers in France in 1940. Thge volley sights are another matter of course.

Having said that, I go along with Brian here, soldiers like RASC rarely needed their personal weapon and so it makes sense to issue them older kit. That goes double if they were also TA.

There are pictures of mark III's with the front volley sights intact taken during the 1940-1943 period, so a few were still intact.

[browningautorifle]

I've tried to stay out of this but here's two things. My father's tales of fighting in Italy give me reason to believe he carried a No1Mk3 in his time in battle. He joined the Canadian army in 1939 and fought until '45. I don't know if or when he was re-equipped as the troops in Italy supposedly were. He also went ashore in Normandy so...

With so many M1 rifles supposedly making it into theater with early features, why would it not be possible for this rifle to do the same? We talked here about M1s that were sent for rebuild from gas trap condition to gas port condition in what...1958??? How late is that? With two wars behind them. They had come from a N/G armoury. I know personally of Reserve units here in Canada holding outdated and un-modified equipment for ages after rebuild time. I just think it's neat that it finally came to light.

I'm just curious what Peter found out about the name in the marked equipment...I'm sure he researched it...

[Norton1]

Hang it on the wall where it can be seen. I used to have a trapdoor Springfield in 45-70 that we found out in the desert not far from where I live. In the late 1800s it was the scene of many Indian and cavalry fights. Took a year of fooling with it but we got it firing again. No stock left but we put another one on it. Hard times came and I sold it - but I still can see it in my mind's eye -

Beautiful old rifle you have there - -

[Son]

I didn't see it mentioned above, but the rifle seems to have retained it's original sights for MkVI ammunition too. From what I can see the rear sight bed has not been reduced in ramp height for MkVII and it still looks to have the early front blade. LOC entry 15638 dated July 1911 called for the sighting mods to be made to "Rifles in the hands of troops and in store". This would mean the rifle had dodged workshop work of any kind from then!

I cannot find the pics I have here comparing the two ramps, but I will do a fresh pic shortly and stick it up for comment.

Adding a pic of two MkI rear sights, top has had the LoC15638 mod for MkVII ammunition, compared to the original shape for MkVI on the rifle below.
For anyone not familiar with this, due to the increased velocity of MkVII ball, the trajectory ramp under the sight slider has been reduced to keep POA and POI consistant at the marked ranges.

[Fred G.]

Good observation! I noticed the front sight too. A Barleycorn.

[Frederick303]

Very likely that it was lost in WWI then....

[5thBatt]

Were the rifle and the webbing found together or just in the same building? could be 2 different stashes separated by 20 odd years

[Peter Laidler]

Lads............. you can take my word for it that with the other stuff in and around the area and the circumstances of its location, other stuff, missing bolt and magazine, that it was abandoned in 1940. The circumstantial evidence to substantiate this is overwhelming and while I hear the theorising from far and wide, the theoretical evidence against this fact is underwhelming.

But, I am only repeating what was told to me in a 10 minute visit where I sat, listened and saw, eyes agog!

Could they have started to equip those rear echelon support troops like the RASC drivers and Engineers with rifles pulled in from the trade or private owners. They did it with a third of the 'military' transport and 90 percent of the staff cars!

As I said, I'll pass this info on if no one objects