Bren at War

[Luis Bren]

I would like to share with you some photos and exchange data and comments.
The photos are from Imperial War Museum Collection



Object description
A member of No. 9 Commando at Anzio, equipped for a patrol with his Bren gun, 5 March 1944.



Object description
A Bren gunner of the 8th Royal Scots at Moostdijk, 6 November 1944.



Object description
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA
A soldier working on a Bren gun at a field armoury in the desert

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

Note the Mk2 butt on the Mk1 Bren, picture 1. I do trust he's not going to shoot it from the waist/hip using that carrying handle. Within a few seconds and a few bursts, the gun will be dragging his arm from the socket! Photo 2 shows the correct way to hold the gun. Later bipods too

Picture 3....... Can't really see what hye's doing that wouldn't be FAR easier if he took the gun off the tripod. Looks like he's 'fixing' the barrel locking nut. But dodgy pose....., under a cocked gun with a mag fitted. Recipe for a mouthfull of hot brass if you ask me

[Luis Bren]

Object description:THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA
Private Edermaniger mans his Bren Gun at an outpost in the 5th Indian Division's lines at Surabaya (Soerabaja).



Object description:THE BRITISH ARMY IN BURMA 1945
Fusilier McCartney, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, armed with a Bren gun near Pyingyaing, between Kalewa and Shwebo, January 1945.



Object description:TERRITORIAL ARMY TRAINING
A Bren gun team of the 16th Airborne Division (Territorial Army) prepare to open fire from the edge of a wood during Exercise King's Joker at the Stanford Parachute Training Area.

[Luis Bren]

Object description:THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA
Private Edermaniger mans his Bren Gun at an outpost in the 5th Indian Division's lines at Surabaya (Soerabaja).

Rare sling?

[Brit plumber]

Rare sling?

No, its 2 rifle slings, 1st has one end looped back on its self through one Bren sling clip from the butt with the other end just looped back. The second sling has passed through the other clip on the bipod and both brass ends of the sling are attached to the 1st sling. If I was home i'd demonstrate.

Did you notice the Bren Mk1 in the 3rd photo (first lot) is an intermediate gun.

[Luis Bren]

its 2 rifle slings

Good eyes! Thank you for you comments!

[AmEngRifles]

No, its 2 rifle slings, 1st has one end looped back on its self through one Bren sling clip from the butt with the other end just looped back. The second sling has passed through the other clip on the bipod and both brass ends of the sling are attached to the 1st sling. If I was home i'd demonstrate.

Funny that should come up. I was just trying out the fit of a single Bren sling and I must have a regular SMLE sling with Bren hooks? Well, if you like carrying the gun up under your armpit, ok, but for those of us over 6" tall, I like a rifle to hang a bit lower, so had just though about putting two Enfield slings together in a manor similar to what you describe. Should give me plenty of length then. :-)

---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

No Brens, no machine guns. You can't parachute a largish force without their additional equipment, ammunition, mortars, radios, food, etc.

Sure, but they would still have Stens. But I suspect they would want the firepower of the Bren. Sorta like having the PIAT along... Big Medicine.

---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 PM ----------

Any Bren pics from the Malayan conflict?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Photo 3 might be a vehicle mechanic "on loan".

[Peter Laidler]

Last photo. Note the .303" 'masher' barrel/muzzle end used when firinf bulletted blanks. If ever there was an item fraught with dangers, that barrel was it!

[Peter Laidler]

I've lost a nights sleep here BP........... How can you tell from this side that it's an intermediate Mk1 - 1A. Unless you can or can't see the Enfield/crown/14xx logo? Some were very lightly engraved. Incidentally, it took 12 minutes to engrave that logo. No wonder they deleted it as timewasting from production. That logo was a part of the licensing agreement and that's why the word BREN had to remain even though it was pretty obvious what sort of gun it was! And that's why the abbreviated form was moved to the other side! Phew........ what a xxxxing palava!