Tag Archives: SMLE

1916 redux

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I’m not sure the origin of these layouts of 1916 military infantryman’s gear, but they are great.

French. Note this is well after the war began as the red trousers have been replaced.

The kit of a French Private Soldier in the Battle of Verdun, 1916, collection provided by Paul Bristow, Croix de Guerre Living History Group, photographed by Thom Atkinson. Note this is well after the war began as the red trousers have been replaced and the extensive grenade collection. The non-standard walking cane is great

British/Commonwealth. Note the SMLE .303 with bayonet and wirecutting accessory just off the muzzle. Also the extensive field mess kit. To the left there is the classic non-standard trench mace and the E-tool handle with pike/shovel blade.

Equipment of a British Sergeant in the Battle of the Somme, 1916. Supplied by Nigel Bristow, The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. photographed by Thom Atkinson. Note the SMLE .303 with bayonet and wire-cutting accessory just off the muzzle. Also the extensive field mess kit. To the left there is the classic non-standard trench mace and the E-tool handle with pike/shovel blade. The canvas cover on the Brodie helmet is rare.

German. Note the camoflauged Stalhelm at the top right and the rifle grenade near the muzzle of the Gew 98 Mauser.

Equipment of a German Private in the Battle of the Somme, 1916, collection provided by Paul Bristow, Croix de Guerre Living History Group, photographed by Thom Atkinson. Note the camouflaged Stalhelm at the top right and the rifle grenade near the muzzle of the Gew 98 Mauser.

 

Russian. They spent a lot of effort on this one as you can tell from the ushanka fur cap (left) Shinel greatcoat (right) Gymnastiorka selection, Bashlyk Circassian hood and gloves. Also note the M1912 "Lantern Head" Grenade. Curiously, the Russians, widely beleived by many to be backward militarily at the time, was one of the first to adopt and issue hand grenades before the War to include the M1912 and the hex-shaped design of Col. Stender-- having gained experience in field expediant ones in the 1904-05 Seige of Port Arthur. This partiular model was redesigned and lived on as the M1914/30 which was only totally withdrawn from Warsaw Pact service in the 1980s. The only thing I have to throw rocks at on this one is that I think the rifle is a 91/30 and not a Mosin 91, but close enough. Also, the Adrian helmets were only used by the Russian Expeditionary Brigade sent to the Western Front.

Equipment from the 1st Russian Women’s Battalion of Death, collection supplied by Bruce Chopping, Ian Skinner and Laura Whitehouse of the 1914-21 Society, photographed by Thom Atkinson. They spent a lot of effort on this one as you can tell from the ushanka fur cap (left) Shinel greatcoat (right) Gymnastiorka selection, Bashlyk Circassian hood and gloves. Also note the M1912 “Lantern Head” Grenade. Curiously, the Russians, widely believed by many to be backward militarily at the time, was one of the first to adopt and issue hand grenades before the War to include the M1912 and the hex-shaped design of Col. Stender– having gained experience in field expedient ones in the 1904-05 Siege of Port Arthur. This particular model was redesigned and lived on as the M1914/30 which was only totally withdrawn from Warsaw Pact service in the 1980s. The only thing I have to throw rocks at on this one is that I think the rifle is a 91/30 and not a Mosin 91 (and many images of the Women’s Battalion show them with Japanese Arisakas, but I digress), but close enough. Also, the Adrian helmets were only used by the Russian Expeditionary Brigade sent to the Western Front.

US Infantryman (Doughboy), arrival in France, 1917. Equipment provided by: Lee Martin, historical adviser, collector and living historian, photographed by Thom Atkinson. Note the cleanest campaign hat ever! Also keep in mind that, while the "Regulars" showed up in France with M1903 Springfields, most of the new Yanks came over with Enfields. The dominoes are a nice touch

US Infantryman (Doughboy), arrival in France, 1917. Equipment provided by: Lee Martin, historical adviser, collector and living historian, photographed by Thom Atkinson. Note the cleanest campaign hat ever! Also keep in mind that, while the “Regulars” showed up in France with M1903 Springfields, most of the new Yanks came over with Enfields. The dominoes are a nice touch

If anyone knows the source, please let me know so I can link back. Thanks

Update: Apparently they showed up on Imgur last week. Original is here. Photos updated with sources. More info here.

Just Rangering it up

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Here is an interesting video that the Canadian Forces posted showing the highlights of the Canadian Ranger Basic Military Indoctrination Course. The course was held from April 10 to 16, 2016 at the Farnham Garrison in Quebec. For those who don’t know, the Rangers are a breed apart from most military organizations.

Most of the land mass of Canada, that sparsely inhabited region away from the population centers near the U.S. northern border, has very little military presence. There, the country is protected by the Rangers. A small, scarcely funded sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve founded in 1942, they are spread out in 160 small units known as ‘patrols’ in 200 of the most remote villages in the world. Like the U.S. National Guard, these part-time soldiers serve a few weekends a year in their community. They conduct armed patrols of their area, report suspicious activities, and help with search and rescue. Their job is huge and their equipment is scarce.

And while they are fielding new Sako rifles, it is interesting to see them still drilling with the good old Longbranch SMLEs.

150 years of very British breech loaders

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Throwback Thursday! A neat old British video, “Riflemen All” from the late 1970s (?) that takes about 15 minutes to break down use of rifles by British troops ranging from experimental Light Dragoons guns, the screw breech Ferguson, capping breech loaders like the Mont-Storm, the Snider, Martini-Henry, Lee-Metford, Enfield, SMLE and so forth. Almost all are shown in (brief) detail, including a little range time.

The handkerchief over the Sharps thing is new to me…and if nothing else there is some bonus footage of a rather cranky Vickers at the end.

Enjoy.

Kiwi Infantry, 1918

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George Edmund Butler, Full marching kit, Corporal J W Cahill, 16 October 1918 nz enfield

George Edmund Butler’s drawing, currently in the New Zealand Military Museum Collection, entitled “Full marching kit, Corporal J W Cahill, 16 October 1918”.

The artist’s annotation on this painting indicates that Corporal Cahill belonged to 14th Co, 2nd O.I.B., (14th Company, 2nd Otago Infantry Battalion), and gives his service number as 41132.

Note the campaign hat that was fairly unique to the New Zealanders at the time as well as the fine detail of the SMLE rifle.

14/2OIB was formed as part of the 2nd New Zealand Brigade, 1 New Zealand Division in Egypt in 1916 then sent to France, fighting almost non-stop from Flers-Coucelette to the hell of Passchendaele and Arras to Cambrai and then finally the Sambre.

The unit later served in WWII at El Alamein and Cassino and is currently 2/4 Battalion Otago and Southland Regiment as a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army.

Corporal Cahill’s military personal file is also held by Archives New Zealand (Archives Reference: AABK 18805 W5530 Box 30, 0021448 – CAHILL, John Walter – WW1 41132 – Army).

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