Unknown Stamp on a 1912 SMLE - RDR?

[lugerfan]

Hi guys,

Wonder if any of you happen to recognise the letters “RDR” on the rear of the action on this 1912 SMLE MKIII. Not sure of the correct name for it but they are just forward of the wrist area (similar place as where the 4T has the D6E marks).

Not sure if they are related, but the rifle action and Butt are al stamped with EY, then Drill Purpose. It also has a butt disc with the word MALVERN stamped on it. (presumably a college or TA ?)

Any hints on its history would be greatly welcome.

thanks


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[Patrick Chadwick]

Really Dangerous Rifle ???

[lugerfan]

[Beerhunter]

I would take a guess that it was on the charge of Malvern College CCF.

It looks like it was EY)'d,then DP'd and later sold out of service (opposed "broad arrows")

No doubt that, because of the DP stamp, you will not attempt to fire it.

[CINDERS]

A) MAL ~ Malvern College
B) RN ~ Renfrewshire
C) Crossed out EY on stock just to the left of the DP ~ The East Yorkshire Regiment
D) Opposing crows feet ~ Sold out of service
E) The numeric value would be its rack No.
The VE and RN I am yet to find and the RDR others may chime in hope this helps a bit

[Beerhunter]

A) MAL ~ Malvern College
B) RN ~ Renfrewshire
C) Crossed out EY on stock just to the left of the DP ~ The East Yorkshire Regiment


The VE and RN I am yet to find and the RDR others may chime in hope this helps a bit

I am afraid that I disagree.

The but disc says says MAL VE RN = Malvern College. A school in Worcestershire.
EY = Emergency use only. Usually a grenade launching rifle that is only to use ball in extremis.

[lugerfan]

Thanks guys, cant seem to find out much military history about the Malvern college beyond the basics, but I'll keep doing some searches.

No worries about firing this one, it was deactivated in '95. Part of the process was to cut a long slot on the barrel lengthwise where it can't be seen & that does give an interesting look at the rifleing - its almost totally gone, do I guess that was the end of this particular rifle's use. Its still the original barrel so they didn't attempt to re barrel it.
Pretty much all the other stamps are correct for Enfield production, pretty sure the front wood is period, but not original as what's left of the serial number doesn't look the right shape, but it still has the volley sights. Gut feel is that it was tidied up a bit with the replacement wood sometime post WW1 and before 1995 - there was a lot of old gunk in there holding it all together when I stripped it down that looked pretty ancient.

It would be nice to work out aprox when it went to Malvern, but I suspect that may be one step to far...

cheers

[Beerhunter]

Thanks guys, cant seem to find out much military history about the Malvern college beyond the basics
cheers

I just checked; Malvern College has a mention on Wikipedia and they still have a CCF. You appear to have one of their old rifles.

When I was was at school in the late 1950s we originally had SMLEs of that kind of vintage. Later they were replaced by No.4s.

[lugerfan]

Thanks for all the replies
From a quick but of reading on Wikipedia the CCF was formed in 1948 but I guess before that it was the OTC, I couldn’t find any specific reference to Malvern having an OTC, however this bit of info on CS Lewis on The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918 seems to indicate that it may have..

“Clive Staples Lewis joined the Officer Training Corps whilst attending Malvern College in September 1913 and left it on leaving that school in August 1914.
He joined the Malvern Contingent of the Oxford University OTC in March 1917. During one of these periods with an OTC he qualified in miniature and 200 yards range musketry.”

So I’ll head off in that direction to see what I can find out about Malvern college or perhaps Oxford's OTC….

Re the RDR stamp – the only things I can find all seem unsuitable
Rhodesian Defence Regiment – Formed 1964
Royal Durban Rifles – renamed in 1889
Does anyone know why a rifle would be stamped in that area – it’s not something I’ve seen before
I guess that bit may remain a mystery…..

Thanks for all the comments…

[Beerhunter]

From a quick but of reading on Wikipedia the CCF was formed in 1948 but I guess before that it was the OTC, I couldn’t find any specific reference to Malvern having an OTC, however this bit of info on CS Lewis on The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918 seems to indicate that it may have..

“Clive Staples Lewis joined the Officer Training Corps whilst attending Malvern College in September 1913 and left it on leaving that school in August 1914.
He joined the Malvern Contingent of the Oxford University OTC in March 1917. During one of these periods with an OTC he qualified in miniature and 200 yards range musketry.”

So I’ll head off in that direction to see what I can find out about Malvern college or perhaps Oxford's OTC….

Prior to 1948 Malvern College would indeed have an OTC (Junior Division).

However it is perfectly possible that Malvern had the rifle on charge to their CCF. As I said earlier, we certainly had SMLEs that old at my school in the 1950s/60s.

Of course, Oxfords OTC is still extant as well and is currently known as Oxford University Officer Training Corps. Oxford - British Army Website