"Sporterised" Lee-Enfields in WWII

[browningautorifle]

Nope........ nothing. just in and out

That's not a plan...

[bigduke6]

The case for abandoning equipment at Dunkirk was purely a weight issue, a small pleasure boat laden to the gunnels with squaddie's is one thing but to take their Rifles and Equipment would be another.... all to with the stability of the vessel, if you see some pics of some of men on the bigger RN and MN ships then most have at least there basic kit, this also depends where and when they boarded the vessels......and would say this was at the beginning of Operation Dynamo, towards the end I would assume this was the biggest loss of kit, with the weather on the turn and Luftwaffe airborne....... (I'd be running like an olympic champion with little care for the kit I'd just ditched)

I've been to Dunkirk on numerous occasions, and have run along the beach and also along the main artery and small streets leading to the evacuation area, quite chilling if you imagine what it was like at the time, most of the streets are unchanged, the beech front has mostly been rebuilt or expanded, one part that does stand out is part of a fortification attached to a house, I can only guess after the war this was beyond demolition so they just built on to it....and next to it.

[mike16]

most soldiers would sink and drown if they waded out to a boat with full gear. there was more gear in reserve, left over from WWI so resupply was not an issue, professional lifers with experience could not be replaced, a lesson learned from the big one in '14. Oficers, regretabley were less expendable than they should have been.

Cynders...

the official secrets act(?) did not allow the release of information for 60 years. so I think much accurate information has become available since then.

I dont discredit the recorded experiences of soldiers who were ther but new documented information adds an additional layerof accuracy and the comparison of french, british and german records for the period is available for analysis with incredable hind site whereas it was not after the event itself or after the war.

I also love the first editions.