WW1 Brit and American gear. From Peronne Museum.

[RT Ellis]

The thread was about identifying the unit in the image because they were obviously in the U.K. and had Krags. Partial Identification was made by the markings on the equipment, which of course the rifles provided no information. What was important to the thread was what unit carried the Krags to Europe. Until the unit was identified there was speculation that it was one of the early infantry units shipped to the AEF. As it turned out the specific unit in the image was an engineer railroad regiment that debarked in the U.K. The history of the unit (12th Engineer Railway Regiment) for which the internet address is provided in one of the posts, indicates the units that paraded in the U.K. in August 1917 were four of the six engineer railroad regiments sent early on to Europe. The unit then started operating in the British sector of the western front, and it mentions that the Krags were turned in by this particular unit after the Battle of Cambrai. Reading through the thread at least some of the units that took Krags to the AEF were support troops.

These engineer units as well as the early arriving infantry units trained with the BEF, and during the training were re-equipped with British rifles. After training was completed and the units returned to the AEF they were issued either the rifle M1903 or rifle M1917. The rifle M1903 was issued to the regular army and USMC units in the AEF, while the rifle M1917 was issued to the National Army (U.S. Army Reserve) and National Guard units. It was intended that because a great deal more rifle M1917 were to be manufactured that it would be the standard U.S. rifle. Apparently after the early conclusion of the war and the contracts were cancelled, it was decided to retain rifle M1903 as the standard rifle.

Other than the images of, and regimental history provided, there is no evidence that any other units that deployed to the AEF carried Krags. In fact the still images and motion pictures of the first arriving infantry units clearly show the rifle M1903.

One of the most controversial topics that keeps resurfacing in literature and forums is what rifle Cpl. Alvin York carried during the action for which he was awarded the MOH. The documents, and York's diary indicate that he turned in the rifle he carried to France, and was issued a rifle M1917. Shortly after arrival in France the Division was sent to the BEF for training, and turned in the rifle M1917 for British arms, presumably rifle Mk III SMLE. Upon completion of the training and return to the AEF the SMLEs were returned to the British, and the rifle M1917 reissued. To take this story into the matter of what units carried Krags, one researcher claims to have found evidence that York (and presumably his entire regiment) trained on the rifle M1898, and that was rifle taken to France, which was replaced by the rifle M1917. If this is true the rifle M1898 went to France with some infantry unit(s) but were turned in immediately upon arrival. My take on this matter is that the rifle M1898 wasn't needed in France, and they certainly would not have sent later arriving troops to France with rifles that would have to be crated and returned to the U.S. or stored. Supposedly one of York's sons made the comment that his father liked the rifle M1903. In the previous scenario York wouldn't have had much chance to evaluate the rifle M1903. It is more likely that York trained with and carried a rifle M1903 to France. What rifle he carried the day of the MOH action will forever remain a controversy, to be argued and re-argued endlessly to no purpose.

[browningautorifle]

Sure thing...but this thread still isn't about Krags...my fault for dragging us off topic...

[gew8805]

The 41st Division, National Guard in London before being broken up as replacements. A very interesting photograph but it adds little to the discussion. These troops are equipped with antique equipment - the M1878 Canteen with it's leather sling and the Krag Rifle as well as other out of date items used in training. These men would have been issued standard equipment, including standard rifles, when being sent to their new units in Europe.