SMLE slings - WW1 sniper use

[desperatedan]

From a discussion elsewhere a question arose about sling mounting on SMLEs by snipers/marksmen. A Museum of NZ picture from Gallipoli shows an ANZAC sniper with the sling mounted on the piling swivel and I also found another from the AWM showing similar fitment.

It's clearly a web sling in the first picture and in the second one it's not fitted to a swivel at the front of the magazine (which I don't think were ever fitted on an SMLE in WW1 in any case).

Does anyone have examples of how these slings were fitted at the rear or used, and presumably they would have had to have been longer than standard to be of any use if attached to the rear swivel?

Thanks

Information

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[Surpmil]

Can't comment on the slings, but the second photo would be more a snap-shooting than sniping scenario I suspect. In the absence of a proper hide, the observer relays the target and location verbally and when to "pop-up" and take a shot. Frank Iriam mentions such a method in a case where there was no other option due to the location of the targets. Looks like there might be an offset scope on the rifle in the first photo.

[harry mac]

Does anyone have examples of how these slings were fitted at the rear or used, and presumably they would have had to have been longer than standard to be of any use if attached to the rear swivel?

Thanks

Would they not have just been two slings clipped together?

[Woodsy]

The trenches were only just deep enough and a rifle slung on the stacking swivel didn't stick up when travelling along the trench, attracting the attention of Turkish snipers.

[smerdon42]

Quinn’s post was one of the highest casualties rate amongst the ANZACs it was so close to the Turks that they used to lob home made bombs at one and other. At about 30 feet .one thing our ANZACs where good at was having a go and improvising .