Searching for Information on a WW2 Enfield

[mbrunnie]

I recently found my late grandfather's service book, he served with the Royal Engineers in North Africa during WW2. In the book, his Rifle No. is noted as J2294. I'm assuming this is an Enfield but not sure. Any info or resources you could point me towards would be greatly appreciated. Quick Google searches have been unsuccessful - not sure if there is a definitive resource to look this up. Of course I'd love to track down this rifle if it still exists.

 

[jtaylor]

Hi mb. My guess is that it is a SMLE (short magazine Lee Enfield) No. 1 Mk III* used by Brit forces in North Africa WW2. John

 

[tacfoley]

J2294 is/was a No4 Mk1 made by BSA, Shirley factory. The source is Crown Copyright - still - so I can't quote you any more about it.

 

[jtaylor]

Hello tac. The No. 4 rifle was produced too late for issue to troops serving in North African campaign. "The Lee Enfield Story" pg 199 by Ian
Skennerton specifically states "the war in North Africa and to a large extent the Italian campaign, was fought with the No. 1 rifle". JOHN

 

[tacfoley]

Yup, I guess you are right, especially in view of this mish-mash of conflicting information from the mavens - other than Mr Skennerton - on the FB Lee-Enfield pages -


Tom Badger
Could be; suggest a WW1 made SMLE.
· Reply · 10 h
Tac Foley
TVM
· Reply · 10 h
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Mark Walker
North Africa, probably no1 mk3 Lee Enfield. Most of the photos on line show troops with those
· Reply · 10 h
Mark Walker
May be an image of one or more people and outdoors
· Reply · 10 h
Tac Foley
According to this - it's a No4 Mk 1 - https://www.rifleman.org.uk/No4serial_numbers.html...
RIFLEMAN.ORG.UK
Serial numbering of the .303in Lee-Enfield Rifle No.4
Serial numbering of the .303in Lee-Enfield Rifle No.4
· Reply · Remove Preview · 10 h
Brad Hedges
No1 MkIII serial numbers were allocated to factories in blocks. The rifles were numbered from 1 so a two three or four digit number with a letter prefix could be a No1. RSAF. Enfield had J serials for MkIII from pre 1916. Then J was used again for MkII… See more
· Reply · 8 h
David Johnston
J2294 according to my lists was a No.1 Mk III* rifle made by BSA in 1918. North Africa did not see general issue of the No4 rifle, photos I've seen were No.1's (SMLE). The No.4 did not seem to appear on the battle front until D Day and the Italian camp… See more
· Reply · 8 h
Chris Collins
You do see examples of no4s in 1st army in tunisia especially first para brigade.
· Reply · 2 h

 

[green]

IMHO it is a No 1 MkIII/III*.
Enfield used a serial number sequence starting a 1 to 9999 then recommenced with A1 -A9999 and so on. As stated the No 4 was used rarely in North Africa.

 

[Lee Enfield]

J2294 is/was a No4 Mk1 made by BSA, Shirley factory. The source is Crown Copyright - still - so I can't quote you any more about it.

Most SMLE MkIII rifle manufacturers used a number prefix similar to Mauser 98 rifles, and each manufacfurer basically started at serial #1. In theory Enfield, BSA, LSA?, Ishapore, NRF (got to at least R72106 by 1918),

No4 rifle manufacturers were assigned serial number blocks and prefix codes early on, so by late 1941 for British manufactured rifles you should be able to identify manufacturer by the serial number.

 

[XRCD011]

And no doubt someone will be firing up the electro-pencil and contacting the OP with exciting news of the discovery of this rifle.