Maunufacture date and serial numbers on Lee Enfields used in Normany Invasion

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Nigel123

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I'm curious if anyone has any information on if the majority of Lee Enfield No4 mk1's used in the Normandy invasion can be linked to a certain chunk of serial numbers or a certain manufacturer. Also wondering if going into Normandy, the troops (both British & Canadian) were given newer rifles, recently out of production in 1944 (1944 dated receiver) or if they used rifles that they went through training and/or battles with, years previous (1942, 1943 dated receiver).
Thanks
 
I think you'd have more luck tracking firearms down to regiments etc versus anything else. From there you can see where they went and potentially find a rifle from one who went through Normandy
 
A friend of mine is a webbing collector and historian. We talked about markings one time. It was his opinion that the troops used whatever they were issued! The period of 1942 to spring 1944 in UK was frenetic as commanders tried to identify which units would be assigned which roles, and which were beyond hope. The latter units were frequently stripped of any competent soldiers and the rest sent to manning depots. The large scale exercises in 1943 were constant tests for leaders and followers. Fail to change what the umpires and staff point out as wrong, and people lost their jobs. You can imagine therefore that troops would have done their best to not stand out. One way of getting noticed was to have nonstandard or an earlier pattern of equipment. Those long lineups of troops getting inspected were to find who was different or improperly equipped.

To answer your question about rifles, there is no easy way to know. For the most part the army tried to isolate heavy training wear and tear on older and nonessential equipment. Think about the Ram, Lee and other tanks used to develop tactics. In May 1944, the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment (perpetuated by the Sherbrooke Hussars) was assigned a complete squadron of brand new out of depot Shermans. The CO had two squadron commanders flip a coin to see who'd get them. And then the fun began as the crews laboured for a month to break in, tune engines, install stores, fix problems, waterproof, and prepare their 27 new tanks. Most of those were destroyed in Normandy in the few weeks and months, so probably a good thing they had the very best condition equipment available exactly when they needed it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke_Hussars#Second_World_War_Battles
 
Study the photos taken at that time.

Rifles are issued and if lost or damaged they are replaced, and not until that time.

Newer rifles go into storage if not required for immediate issue and there they often stay until the war is over. That's just how the system works.
 
A Normandy veteran I knew who was a member of the Regina Rifles told me that they received new equipment in March. He specifically mentioned the new helmets they got, Mk3's and the high boots, buckle boots. He never mentioned getting a new rifle, but our conversations were more about his uniform and his experience of the landing. He was wounded while still in the water that morning.
Lots of photos showing Canadians in Sicily armed with No. 4 rifles, so they were on mass issue in 1943.
 
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