The British Soldier in the 20th Century MTeoR te hoy Mike ChappellRITISH\WIOLDIER THENTURY Written and illustrated by trated by MIKE CHAPPELL WESSEX MILITARY PUBLISHINGSE ee Wessex Miliary Publishing 1A High Street Hathertigh, Devon EX20 3001 © Copyright 1088 Wessex Miltary Publishing This book scoparghte der the Borne Convention. All rights reserved Apa rom any far dealing forte parese ff private study, rewarey critic or review, ax permite ler the Copyright Act, 1955, par of tis pub fas be reproduced, noted in a elec ste transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic lectHeal, chemical, mchaical, optical, photocopying, econ or otherwise, without the por p conrght owner, Engines shonld he addressed Puntisns ISBN 1 870408 0 Typeset andl prined In Great Brita by Topiown Printers Limited Vicarage Laven, Rarntaple, North Devon England machine gun. Note the white tape cam Canal, April 1918. Note the ‘pares hag, and the fact that th ‘been pushed fully downt (IW @ 10902)4 : Light Machine Guns ‘The term “Light Machine Gun", L.M.G. for short, was introduced in the 1930s after the adoption into British service of a .5 inch calibre Vickers machine gun, This was classified as a Heavy Machine Gun, the .303 inch Vickers a Medium Machine Gun, and the lighter guns, capable of being car~ ried and fired by one man, Light Machine Guns. In 1914 the machine gun of the British Army was the Vickers Maxim, issued on a seale of two per battalion, By 1915 these heavy, bel fed weapons had been grouped into Brigade machine gun companies and were no longer under unit control, Although the guns were more effectively used in this way, the need for more machine guns ‘was apparent — both to boost the Weapon strength of the fledgling Machine Gun Comps, and to inerease ‘The firepower of infantry riffe eom- panies. Wartime production of the 1912-paitern Viekers machine gun was directed to the M.G.C,, whilst a weapon with less complicated hand- ling characteristics was sought for the rest of the army. ‘At that time, many designs of what would later be called light machine guns were commercially vailable, From these the British chose an American weapon, the “Lewis Automatic Machine Gun” (as it was deseribed in manuals of 1915), a weapon “sufficiently light and portable to be carried easily by a single foot soldier to any firing point accessible to infantry”. The Lewis Gun (Called, at various times, “Lewis Automatie Machine Gun’, “Light Gun”, “Lewis Light Machine Gun”, “Lewis Machine Gun’) For much of its early service the seale of issue of the Lewis gun in the British Army was one per plat toon. The Great War Lewis gun was held to be a specialist weapon, and vwas handled in action by a section ‘of men selected and trained for the task by a battalion Lewis gun officer, In battle the section com- Men of the 6th York and Laneasters, 11th Division, cle ‘their Lewis gun in trenches at Cambrin, February 1918, Visible are the spare parts bag and the pistols with which two men of the section are armed. (IWM @ 8460). mander (a Corporal or Lance- Corporal) selected fire positions and issued fire control orders, The “number 1° carried the Lewis gun, “the first supply of ammunition", “spare parts", and fired the weapon, The “number 2” generally assisted No. 1 and carried four magazines and the spare parts bag. The “num- ber 3” also carried four magazines and acted as a link between the gun and the main ammunition supply “Numbers 4 and 5" were nominated as scouts. ‘Numbers 6, 7, and 8° carried the main ammunition sup- ply ~ thirty-six magazines between them ~ bringing the total carried by the section to forty-four 47-round magazines, (A truly staggering amount. Over two thousand rounds of ammunition, weighing 182Ibs or 82.5kgs.) The whole section was trained to handle and fire the Lewis gun, of which it was recorded, “If the return spring is correct (to ensure that it was a spring balance was carried) and the gun properly cared for, the weapon will function well, Stoppages, however, sometimes occur and it is essential that the firer should instinctively carry out what is known as Immediate Action to get the gun firing again”. Which Immediate Action needed to be applied was indicated by the posi tion of the cocking handle after stoppage. Failure of the LA. was followed by a consequ series of actions to isolate and deal with any one of a possible seven stoppa- ges. This particular aspect of hand- ling took up large proportion of training and exercise time. Tactical teaching of 1918 stated that apart from the men firing the Lewis. gun, the remainder of the section woukl always disposethey are actually for the moment ~ performing some duty in connee- tion with the firing or feeding of the gun’. In the attack, when a man- oeuvre known as “dribbling up” or advancing in single-man bounds took place, the section commander indicated the next fire position to the scouts who went forward and secured it. The section then took up the position with the No. 2 on the left of the gun, the section comman- der behind the No. 1 -to be able to direct and observe his fire — and the remainder of the section disposed on either flank as riflemen. In the defence Lewis guns were always sited 10 cover those enemy approaches where he would be most vulnerable, such as. defiles, ‘gaps in wire, ete. Whether in attack or defence great emphasis was pla- ced on rapidity in engaging and hitting fleeting targets. ‘Hard-hitting, mobile and avail- able in tens of thousands, the Lewis gun provided the real firepower of the British infantry by 1918. One of the effets of this dominance was ‘A Lewis gun section of the 15th West Yorks (Ist Leeds), 51st Division, takes up a postion on the railway near Mer the light machine gun, The Hotchkiss Machine Gun (Also called “Hotchkiss Portable”, “Hotchkiss Light Machine Gun", etc.) Cavalry regiments, like infantry battalions, lost their Viekers-Maxim sections shortly after the outbreak of war in 1914, When the Lewis gun became available it was tried by the cavalry, but proved to be too cum: bersome and insufficiently robust for transport on horseback, Even: tually, a design of weapon known in France as the “Hotchkiss Portative” and in the United States as the “Benét-Mercié Machine Rifle” was adopted and made in Britain in the service, 303 inch, calibre, Known as the Hotchkiss machine gun, Mark I, it was first issued to cavalry units in 1916. Availability eventually permit ted a scale of issue of one Hotch- that remained unchanged until the Weapon fired its last angry shots in Syria in 1941, In the Great War cavalry regiments had three squad- rons of four troops each.) ‘Atatime when cavalry still cons dered the charge with sword or lance a valid manoeuvre of war, the Hotchkiss section had to dismount to become effective. Once on foot the section fought in- much the same way as a Lewis gun section, except that the main ammunition supply remained on pack-saddle, held to the rear by horse-holders along with the mounts of the se tion commander, the “number 1” and the “number Like the Lewis, the Hotchkiss was considered to be a specialist weapon, and like the Lewis it also had — by today’s standards — a remarkable tendeney to jam, break down or fail to fire. (Eight different “Immediate Actions” are listed in the manuals, the drill to be carried out depending on the position of the breechblock on stopping and subsidiary symptoms.) is, April 1918, Not ‘sible are the section commander and those numbers on the left of the gun. Several have damped sets of magazine pouches with the smumber 2, The No.1 loads the gun. (IWM Q 8689).At the top of the page is a Lewis gun fitved with sling veivels and a ipod (Mount, feld, Mk I11). Later modifications added a ‘carrying handle and an oil bottle in the butt. The weapon weighed 27Ibs (12.25ka), was chambered for the service 208 inch Mik VEL ammanition, and was gas/spring operated, firing full-automatie only at a eyelle rate of 30 rounds per minute. Ie was sighted (0 1900 yards on some models and 2000 yards on others, although the maxttum effective range was between 800- 1,100 yards according to the skill of the firer and conditions of visibility prevailing. Magazines held 47 rounds and were carried in boxes, earriers (centre, left) and sets of pouches. Tools, spares and eleaning kit were carried in a spare parts bag (contre, right) and included ofl ean (a), magazine filling tool (b), cartridge case extractor (c) and barrel spanner (d) Also carried were aclinder cleaning rod (e), cleaning rod (€) and spring balance (g).(Photos, Chris Passingham and IWM Q 4649),Lowis gunners of the 15th Royal The Bren Gun (Also. called “The Bren’, “Bren Light Machine Gun’, “Section Light Automatic” and “The Lt Light Machine Gun”) In the 1930s the British Army prepared to fight a mobile war “Mechanisation” improved the mobility whilst new weapons were sought to increase its firepower. In the infantry there had been a move away from the “specialist” doctrines of the Great War, and teaching now decreed that the men in a rifle platoon should be expert in all (he weapons issued to it, Vickers Machine Guns (noto- rious for the lengthy training required for their skilled use) were withdrawn from battalions and issued to units with a specialist machine gun role. Rifle companies, formerly of four platoons of four sections, were reorganised as th platoons of three sections — and each section was issued its “Sec tion light automatic”, the Bren. No. longer would the light machine gun be the exclusive weapon of a. “specialist”. Every recruit was to be trained in the use ‘ots, 34th Division, 4ch January 1918, (IWM Q 4648). of the Bren, and was expected to be able to take it up and use it in battle. “The light machine gun is the principle fire producing weapon of the section. The rifle is not only the personal weapon of the rifle- man for use in an emergency or for augmenting the fire of the light machine gun, but it enables the rifleman by accurate shooting to dividual enemy.” So said g publications of the time. Every infantry section was to become the equivalent of the Great War Lewis gun section, The Bren was to become the section's real firepower, with those who carried rifles being, in reality, ammunition ‘The infantry section of the second World War was commanded by a Corporal, who personally supervised a “tifle group” of six privates, each of whom carried 2 Bren magazines in their basic pouches, ‘The “Bren group” was ‘commanded by the section second: ommand ce Corporal. His: oup consisted of the “number 1” on the Bren, carrying the weapon, 5 ‘magazines and the spare parts wal- let, and the “number 2” who carried A magazines, the holdall and a set of uiility pouches for the collection of fall magazines from the rifle group as he delivered empties. As the Lance Corporal also carried 4 magazines, his Bren group had 13 available (o it with 12 in reserve with the rifle group, Infantry tactical doctrine of the time called for the Brens of a rifle company to engage the enemy in the fire-fight that followed an adv ance to contact. Minor tactics at section and platoon level were ased on fire and movement to close with the enemy, once the fire fight had been won, with groups or seetions moving in bounds. In the case of a section in the attack, the ideal was for the Bren group to pin the enemy position with fire from a frontal position whilst the rifle group assaulted from a flank with grenade, submachine gun and bayonet For a platoon attack, the point section became the fire section — usually with an additional Bren group and the fire from the pla toon’s 2inch mortar smoke and (continued on page 18)ly man-packed in batt‘The Lewis Gun Developed prior to 1914 by an American, Colonel Totae Lewis, the Levis gun v0 rade muder licence in British factories, ‘chambered and bored for British service ‘amumuasion. sacs 2 antes began tn 1948, fn a sealesulficint to isgue ec bation eth Corse gens, ut by JOTR sufficient gr hut toon mannfuctired to enatle exch atoaion to have a toa of 26 gens. (Tey each of the 16 platoons and 4 antiaireray pons at attation hetgnarters.) The central fume depicts @ Lanoe Cory ral “nuraber 1” of the 2ud Scots Guarts Guars Division, 19S Note the reqinentat signi, Levis qin sSaltatarms badge warm alone the Barge of rank to demoie on. fustructor, “out since "TH" overseas service cheorins un the pistol- armed 1 webbing The Lewis gn features a careying handle eoch cover and improvised mazale prote tion. Atop, a “number 2" private sodier of the 7th Bui 18th Ditton, is show as he would herve uppoareat im 1015, Note the sare pots bog, magazine carrier (9 mage: Sines) and cylinder cleaning rod ease he carries light load compared to the figure ‘Shanon a right private of A compar, 1? Ist Herforasbives, 37% Division, 1918, Our subjects loa was common ta att rumor 6, 7 nad Se" —4-mausines 9 carrier, and 8 0 @ se af special pouches Note the Divisional (horses), battalion (Qweart) and company (rod sirip) battle insignia, Lewis gun skileatarms badge, (good conaduct chevron and won stripe Machine gun “numer fo” of the British Army scere armed with pistots in the Great War At bottom right 48 shown the mast ‘common aype — the Webley Mork VT 43 inch revoleer. Shown also vs the rear of i ‘ase cd cmmunition pouch Lewis yunners a first wore the "EG." ‘skitbat-arns baile, but in 1017 a speciat “L.G." ge was instituted. This was worn sn cloth nit brass. fu some Diessuons additional devices rwore worn to Wout Levis gunners. Shown on this plate are those worm inthe Bst Division by fst Black Waten (aquary) ane tt South Wales Borer ers (rectangle) By 1918 jour Levis gious were ieee to fh battaion or anstaireratt purposes (in eaaition 20 those vse tu the ground ole) Machine gens of all sorts had tee sed Orronghin the war against enemy fivcras, usally being fred frome imi vised mowntings. (See photograph lef BWA Q 10748) tn 1907 a speciat ant tacoma tripod was tenet eee reson. ed a music stand (a), ant when sex with the Lewis gun, required a yoke (2) adapt rom the biped of that weapon, The Fipod ‘ould be folded ad enrvied by meas of Pilesting (c). Spectal sights were designed for shooting at aircrap, at these feutee ‘aw liptiat foresight which enabled “I to be gauged. ‘he foresight for the Lewis ‘gen is hove at (A).Plate ACOLOUR PLATE B ‘The Hotchkiss ‘The main figure 18.4 depiction of a Lance Compara Horcliiss “number 1" of the 1 Lancers, 3rd Cavutry Division, 1918. The barrel of the Hoichkise beoame very hot vehen pring and mony cacalry Hotchkiss gunners wore the machine gunsiers! ast. coat" show, in order to shoulder aired gun with safety. Note the special bandotier for 0 yonnd fod sivins and the Smith & Wesson ‘955 inch revoior. Our subject hots his Hotehbise in tts canvas and father cover and carries a box containing 10:M-round feed strips. Noto his regimental insignia, his Divisional batile insignia, badges of appointment, good conduct cheers, wound sore and oversens service chev rms. He scears the Brass “F.G.” skit farms badge for Howse unser intro ‘duced i 191 7-ecamptes in elth and metal ‘are shows eularyed, us are shoulder ile forthe 17h Lancers. Hotchkiss machine guns wore madified for use in tanks nd calor Mark T* No, 2 (guns. When mounted in savas they enn not be classifi as Tight machine uns, bac hey were frequently dismonated and set 8 such, usually vehem tanks broke deen or swore “nacho cut" The secondary fire portrays & Sergeant of the Int Tanks car ying a No.2 gion Note his modified 1914 pattern equipment, regimental snsignia tnd tank qualiention badge, His “T (Tonk Corps) shoulder tithe is shown in detail In the background is a "Whippet” ‘ank, a type avmert with 4 Hosonkiss megs The No. 2 gun fired 50-round belts (made rom linked S-rmwed strips) from a “hop- per", and collected the emi enses in fanvns hag, ‘Due photograph at right shows Indian Army oaeatrymen of the 18th King George's Own Lancers operaving @ Hotchkiss at Querria in Juty 1916. The weapon in its first issued form, with a bipod, A 3O-rvund ‘ex strips has been lander ar the "mmbor 127 positioned to loa jurther strips, as veo as a bipod the Mark I Howchkise had a serew-adjusting monopod in the butt (sae ‘agra below), By wstising the wonopiod stability of a sort could be obtained to improve accuracy. However, the systen. teas unsatisfactory an the monopod seas frequently remnven. {Note the use of the Duttstrap in the photearanh.) Boomoraly smal tripod ws devetoped an fit tothe ‘nveamiemsom eur sie ofthe barr ‘Food strips for tho No. 1 nen come sn 9: round, 14-round and 30-round lengths. (A S-rouned strip is shown #m the diagrars.) These were flat stryps “ef meta in sic. pierced sections wove bent to produce hal ders andl utes forthe umavnition. Reed strips were enrrivd in leather badotirs (- round), aval ina vartery of baees made From leather, woo anal metal or meta for the Leround and 30-round variety. Tools sre ond eloning Bi were carrie in the spare parts bays common to all British machine guns‘inal cavatry configuration, Mk I* No. 1, the Hotchkiss was mounted on the “Tripod, Hotchkiss, 303 inch M.G. Mk I”, as at (2) Tmounting wrench” (e) wna needed to change barrels, as was some form of protection for the hands, ACM 10¥ins (1.187) in lenge civilian gentleman isthe Newfoundland premier on a visit to the Tank Corps Gun Sehool at Merlimont, Jnly 1918.) Note the spare barrels fffective range was similar to the Lewis, Single rounds or burst could be selected and the cyclic rate of ire was 500 r tased a combi : ppimg, The double-pallthrough (0) was an item passes affected parts, The photograph at right show “Western Front” ia early 1340. The tripod was used Se the gan to be layed on fixed lines to shoot at night, in smoke or in fog. WM),o) Weighing 271bs (12.25kg) the weapon was ahead of its time In wtlising & second barrel (b) to reduce overheating and wear. A cumbersome ‘he Hotchkiss was handier than the 4M 24sins (1 282m) Lowis. The Tank Corps’ Mk I* No. 2 Hotchkiss is clearly seen in the photo at left. The spare parts hag, 80-round linked belts and the pan or hopper which held them. Hotehkiss guns were sighted to 2,000 yards, but the maxima cion was by gas and spring. WM Q 6892). The Rren gun alyo utilised harrel-changing, In its 1945, lightwefght Mk II version (d) the weapon from the Lewis. It was used with flannelette (“four-be-tw0") (and a wire gauze (h), A fouling tool (i) was used to cut earbon from the fas se increase accuracy and allow the firen to enyage targets beyond its maximum effeetive range of 600 yards off the bipod. Tripods alsa allowed‘The Bren Gun The story of the trials conducted by the British Arma in the 19308 find a replace ‘ment for the Lawis gun is well een. The reiobilty ofthe Covch ZB 26, its modiica. fiom t0 303 inch ealsre, the nnomniag of the neve gu as de Bren (BR frm Brn ~ its place of origin; EN from Eifetd~ its ploce af mavexsacture), andthe commencement of sees #91 1998 have taken on the aspect af legend in the stony af 2 wepon that serves om 50 years tater ‘The central figure és of private sation “somber 1" Oe Ist Royal Irish Fusiliers, 45 Division, in the UK in 10%0, His weapon is the Biron in its original orm ~ Ak I ed sil complete with ut trap ant andl, (Those wore later dispense with az eximwomy mensures.) Note our subject's 1AFF-pattern equipment, spare pert wallet, espiracor and gus-cape, regimental ins ‘ia, god exdnetchervems and "LG." sel fat-orms badge. (This ts retained to tis day fax the barge of tight machine gion marks ‘eve ~ even though i is 0 yours wince the E.G. hard ty signifies!) "LG." badges were by nove made in buff embroidery insiond of white, end wnnffelal "BG." nauges were worn outros At tof, @ private of the Ist Glasgre Hightanders, 5201 (Mountain) Division, ‘aries Bre» mayusine Innes, UR 19% ach bess hold 12 magazines an were for transit and storage use, although oorasio= aly tation inaction, ‘AL right is depicted 4 Lenco Corporat section secondein-commana, 2 Royal Us ter Rifts, th Airborne Division, 194% In ‘ution to hse rile ant "37 pattern batde ‘onder he carves utility pouches ant hota Inaticating that there x no “unmber 2” in ‘his Bren group. At the eonive ofthe plate és the pref 0f roan 303 inek tracer tamomnnition Coy Work Way Tago auch in fuse with Brens for anti-ainera purposes, ange indication and observation offre ont 5 1.000 yards). Tho base of the standesst Mark VET round of batt amonenition is also ‘shown to slestrate, he Sdenvgying purple ing around the primer. ‘The photonvaph at lft show a soldier of the 8th Army analy 2 1995, He carries a Mani IF Bren, wlslity powohes and a US “Army sueksack, Note dhe Mark IE bom, Diped, cncking handle, tangent backsight and butt All were uvertime prnduction Baton the photegraph: ave ilestrations om the 1897 srainang pamphlet for the ‘Bron. They shone the correct postion for oibing ad asin the Mark 394m. ‘The Mark J and I guns weighed 2310s (1044%q) and the Mark Hf gon 19/t0s (B8tkg). The Mark 11 seas. 2% inches (B.i3emm) shorter than the 85 inches (155m) of the Mavs F and IE Att red ‘singe yontds of usste a oyelio nate of fire of bercoen 450-550 vonnds per minute, ‘nal wore gussspring operat‘The Bren Gun The Bren continued lobe the principe ight ‘auiomatie of the British Army wl into dhe 1060s, The main figure depicts a private saldier “nuember 1° of the Ist Royal Fost liers.Commonwenith Division, Korea 1952. He carries the Max UT 303 tnch ereion ofthe Biren with atditional magast nes carried in the powhes of his 1984 postere webbing equipment. Nove his TS M- 1952 armoured ves, Maric IV stool helmet land "Cold Wet Weather” boots. Iusignia ‘worm an coma ness i Rien ws seen Yo Drassunls, which enald be put om oF taken offs needs dictated. Our subjects is shear fn detait boone, alongwith the shortlived LMG." shilkutarms badge ase in tke (ate 19500 and the current skil-at-urins bnaige worn by units ofthe Light Iufantry In Malaya, special Ioonlyemae powehes snore ieswet io Brow gurners tw the 19508, Our secondary fare demonstrates these Another theatre issue in Medaya eas @ isto grip tehiek attached 10 the forse mowntiuy pin. This i shown se detait bed The photograph at top right shows the contents of the spase parts wallet. Combine tion tok (4), palitrsugh (0) vilean e) and the pocket for the spare pao in (4), shown pec the fp, The photograph and dingram at centre right, demanstate the extents and stowage 1 the hotaau. fv the matin compartment went the spare, or No. 2 barrel ng th the caine elening ra, Pocket Ce) betd butte of “old weather” oil pocket (held the spare parts walle when not i nse poeket (g) held an oi ote ft of graphite arense; pocket (h) held the and magazine brush foraitachment to the cylinder rods pocket (1) held he fouting took Slings Jr the Bren were longer than standard rifle slings and were attached 10 the weapon ty means of ome oF te snap hooks (hottone photograph) — all photo graphs, Chris Passingham) The mechanical reliability ofthe Bron is legendary. When the gun stops firing the Tomine Aevum is simply to veplace the suey — empty margezine with a fl one hs action sures most ofthe gun's is, ht I the gum "fires ane or co more rounds, land stops aint” the frer adjusts the gos regalator 0 the net largest hke aed goes Living, Very, very marely 18 there a further ‘stuppage, but even these are simple to revise ane! reel, With twouty-re 28-20 Bren magact nes carried by a World War Two section, a otal ef 700 rounds of cmamunition eas ‘weatadle tothe gun — a tesser emowot than the 2068 rovnds erred by a Lewis gun sovtion of 1915-1918 The shortfall was compensated for by euch comparey having tus reserve ammunition aban « Bren gun carrier ane ofthe many uses this versatile voice was puto pire brashTLE. — whilst the remaining two sections manoeuvred in bounds, again using fire and movement, to a flanking assault position. The size of the attack effort was dictated by the strength of the enemy position Asection might be ordered to clear ‘a single machine gun post or a couple of riflemen, A platoon attack was needed if an assault on an ‘enemy position in seetion strength was to succeed. Anything over this would require the mounting of a set-piece operation with supporting fire. Whatever the operation, the weight of fire that could be deli- vered from a battalion's Brens was erucial, A set-piece attack would, again, break down into a series of individual section and platoon fights once the enemy had beeen closed with. In the defence infantry dug into a series of platoon localities, each featuring all-round defence, and with the Brens carefully sited for the support of flanking sections with their fire interlocking. Tripods wore brought up and. selected Brens were mounted on them and sited for “fixed line” (Targets registered in daylight so that they could be covered at night, in smoke or in fog.) Fixed line cr Pore fa rere hy, March 1918, Anti-aircraft sentry of a ont emma etce shoots were also set up by wiring Bi stakes. In this way max- imum fire effect was brought. down, ‘at night, with the ald of trip flares, parachute illuminating — mortar bombs and Very lights. In defence the Brepower of a company’s Brens, a vital element, could be greatly enhanced by skillful siting. ‘Minor taeties and section/platoon organisation remained unchanged from the me of the adoption of the Bren until it disappeared from the Infantry inventory. In addition to its use as a conventional light machine gun, the Bren was used in a variety of secondary roles. It was adapted to take a 100-round dram magazine and fixed on a variety of vehicle bore multiple mountings for anti- alreraft use. Most. British World War Two armoured fighting vehi cles mounted a Bren as an anti- aircraft machine gun, usually on a single mount controlled from within the turret, This weapon could be used as a conventional Lim. if the crew had to “bale out in the event of their APY. being hit In the years that followed World War Two the British Army fitted the Bren in turret mountings on the scout cars used for escort duties in Malaya and the Middle Rast. Twin Bren external mountings were also used, In today’s parlance the Bren can only be described as “user friendly”. Wickedly accurate out to its maximum effective range of 600 yards, it is comfortable to shoot, is hardly ever prone to stoppages other than empty magazines, is easy to n and enjoys the affection of all those who have used it. It would be no exaggeration to claim It to be the best weapon of its type. It serves on in today’s British Army despite the adoption of a General Purpose Machine Gun in the 1960s, It will probably be replaced in time by the Light Support Weapon com ing into service with the infantry, but may have some sort of reserve role to play in the future. ‘The Light Support Weapon would appear by its litle, to be excluded from a study of light machine guns = as does the General Purpose Machine Gun, Nevertheless, the G.P.MG. in its “Tight role” is used in much the same manner as the Bren it replaced, and therefore, in rep! ing the G.P.M.G, within the infantry section, the L.S.W. will inherit much of the tactical role of the Bren.June 1919. Ne tive leather and asbestos Above: Hotehkiss packsaddlery. Demonstrated by a 1Tch Lancer, Colo und steips, feedsack, shovel container for the spare barrel above the horse's back, Note also ‘and $-round strip bandolier around the horse's neck. On the other side ofthe saddle were more 30-round strip hoxes, bringing the total of ammunition carried on the horse to 1,254 rounds, (IWM Q 7724). Below: Twenty-two years aver a Hotchkiss detachment of the Cheshire Yeomanry photographed at the Litani river, Syria, The packesaddery s identical to that of the early photograph, but ‘dhe equipment is stowed less formally! WM E, 3598).Bren mas webbing ‘a “carrier platoon” of predated motor battalic uehes (lett above) and both used as haversacks, (Chris infantry battle J mobility. The ¢‘ground targets or areraf. By 1942 Ic had been decided that one tripod to every three guns was sufficient. As an antl-alreratt ‘moutting the tripod had been found wanting. Just as effective was to shoot at aircraft from the hip = the “hosepipe” method ‘tll in use, CIWA Army Tvaining 1721). ‘Scots Guards train with the Bren tripod in its antl-airerstt role, 1938. Originally each gun had its own tripod for use sgninst | |‘The Viekers-Rerthierligh Ling. of dhe Indian Ar quip the whole Brit Jome British battalions brigaded with Indian troops were issued with the Viekers-Berthler as a replacement for thelr ancient Lewis guns. Bearing a strong resemblance to the Bren, the VB was employed tactically in fan Mentical manner. ‘The ‘was gas and spring operated, and fired standard .903 inch ammunition at a eyclle rate of 500 rounds per minute. The photograph shows the weapon being used in North Africa in 1941, and the drawing shsows {the pecullar leather pouches issued with the gun for its 80-round magazines. (IWM),“The first Lewis guns issued to the British Army in 1915 came with a variety of “mounts”, including “the light folding fleld mount”, as iMlustrated in the 1915 handbook. “The tren in use in recent times, Infantry training in the United Kingdom double to new fire positions. Note the LA Bren on the let of| the pleture, (MOD UKLF), rite thanks are extended to Preston Ieane of the Cobbaton Combat Vehicle Museurm, Devon, and Peter and Datsy Bell for their help in the production of this bookBN eukrlC tance uke ule” A series oflavshly-ilustrated handbooks portraying the men of the Brish Amy in the wars and campaigns of the present, froubled century. Each tile sets out fo tell the COMPLETE story of its subject wih the emphasis on ilusration ull colour paintings, photographs, drawings and technical ilustrations. All researched, written and ilustrated by MIKE CHAPPELL with a Regimental eee ol Titles available: Kk 1, SERVICE DRESS 1902-1940 2. FIELD SERVICE HEAD DRESS 1902 to the present day 3. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT 1945 to the present day 4, LIGHT MACHINE GUNS Future fitles: 5. BATTLEDRESS 1939-1960 6. TROPICAL UNIFORMS 7. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT 1903-1937 DS BE Ae ROE ISBN 1-870498-03e8 WESSEX MILITARY PUBLISHING. i £3 50 TAHIGH STREET 1) \\| iti on geste , | I e036 (eae) DEVON EX20 3JH —U.K.