1940 Naval SMLE Photo

[Lance]

My purchasing dry spell continues so when a picture of one of my "most wanted" SMLE's came up I had to grab it as it might be as close as I get to finding one. From the age of some in the picture it appears to be a reserve unit.

Information

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[Frederick303]

That might explain the SMLE MK I found in Belgium/France some years ago. Perhaps there were some naval units involved in the retreat to Dunkirk.

[Paul S.]

That might explain the SMLE MK I found in Belgium/France some years ago. ...

Was it WWI dated? If so, it might have been a remnant from one of the Naval Divisions that served on the Western Front. Then of course, there was the Zeebrugge Raid. Link: Warfare - Featured Articles - The Zeebrugge Raid

[Peter Laidler]

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

[Beerhunter]

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

something "FORCE" ? I'm guessing it is a the equivalent of Red Forces and Blue Forces or our day.

[bigduke6]

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

Can't make it out but his mate on the right is a " Gun Layer 2nd Class"

[mrclark303]

Can anyone identify what is written upside down on the cross-strap thinggy of the centremost man. Looks like xxxurgexxx to me.......

I think that's his gas mask bag strap Peter..

[stevesmle]

The rifle in question is either a SMLE Cond Mk II**, a Cond Mk II*** or a Mk I *** with a bridge charger guide fitted, all Royal Navy issue rifles of pre-1915 vintage.

[scoobsean]

Burges? There was an HMS Burges that served in the Atlantic and English Channel late in the war:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Burges_(K347)

[Smellymarkfive]

The photo was taken the day after Dunkirk ended, probably to show we still had people to fight invading Germans. Is that a Mk I with a charger bridge?