Australian 1915 Lithgow SMLE Markings

[Drachenblut]

Hello Everyone,

I have recently aquired the rifle mentioned in the title. I have limited knowledge of Lithgow Australian markings, and was hoping you experts could help tell me more of this wonderful new rifle I acquired. She means alot to me as I had a relation who served at Gallipoli in 1915 then the Somme in 1916 and so forth, and survived the war. He hitched a ride with some Canadian vets in 1918 and snuck aboard a steamer to Canada. He served in a reserve corps in WWII and may have gone over, no one is sure (he was 18 in 1915) and died peacefully in the 1970's. He was wounded many times but never given medals or reccomendations for it, being an enlisted man who rose to NCO by 1918. I am honoured to have a rifle of importance to me, signifying him and his trials by fire.

Please help me understand these marks and their history, the last one is of particular interest!

Here are the pictures, name the markings as they come!

The first marking here is 3MD stamped ontop of the rear recevier knoxform.

The second is two star "A"s stamped over one another, under it a shield with ACB and to the bottom right, a circle with an F

The third is on the bottom of the magazine well, it is stamped S.S.A.

The fourth is from bottom left clockwise:
MA VII MA VI 10 '45 Crown L Crossed Flags L P Narrow Arrow

The fifth set is under the second piece of wood of the upper fore stock, written SLAZ 45

The sixth is on the left rear sight ear MA '41

The seventh is on the left-most side of the right buttstock, and is faded but seems to read:
MA
Lithgow
SHtLE or SMLE
III* HV
1 / 1942

The final set of mystery markings read:
R
MA
6 / ?? I can barely distinguish these last 2 numbers, they look like A 15 A 16 or 45, the lattest being my first guess.

Cheers and many thanks in advance gents!
Yours Sincerely,
Drachenblut

 

[skully]

r .
All the best
skully

 

[smellie]

Genuine Great War rifle, kept in Service like so many, rebuilt to 'new' with a mixture of brand-new and recycled parts (your SSA triggerguard.... they didn't make a lot at all).... and a brand-new barrel installed in October of 1945!!!!!

Talk about some guys' LUCK!

Drachenblut, that one's a keeper for a LOTTA reasons. Should form up into an excellent shooter, too.

 

[RangeRover]

Nice score. A very early Lithgow, linked to some family history. Doesn't get any better. Enjoy.

 

[Drachenblut]

Thank you gentlemen, your congratulations are well felt and appreciated. The information from you skully was certainly helpful. What was the 3rd Military District? You mention SSA made parts, I've never heard of this company. Could you tell me some about them? I will never be parting with this rifle as it is very close to me, who had family in both wars. My ancestor at Gallipoli was an ex-pat Austrian who emigrated 5 years before the war to Australia. He was a land owner who was kicked off his land and had all he had destroyed by the Germans prior to WWI from what I know. He had little love, and his Austrian helped the Aussies in WWI decode some messages (this is how I think he got NCO'ed). A relative of mine said he passed on the story that he kept the rifle he was issued at Gallipoli when he left there and carried it through the rest of the war, always caring for it. He finally gave it up at the end of the war when he snuck aboard the transport steamer.