Ross Photos - Valcartier - 1914

buffdog

buffdog

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Here are four photographs taken at Camp Valcartier, Quebec, in 1914.
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In the picture below is the McAdam Shovel, designed not only for digging, but also as a shield and a rifle rest.

The first two photographs show something very interesting. Notice the position of the legs as a shooting stance. This is a very old position, where the left leg and foot crosses over the right leg.
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Two photos of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)

On guard duty and in the Field
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Great photos, thanks for posting.

And I agree, shooting from prone in that position would feel awkward to say the least. It would be interesting to know the rationale behind it.
 
The MacAdam Shovel was one of the most utterly useless pieces of equipment ever foisted upon the suffering soldiers of any nation.

So saith The Conventional Wisdom.

I wonder why nobody ever told that to the Austrians and the Swiss?

BTW, anybody notice WHO is watching the shooting in Photo Number 2? None other than The Honourable Member for Lindsay!

Great pics, Buff! Where EVER do you dig some of these up?
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Great pics! I note the horrid, choking collars on the uniforms. The RCMP red serge still has that torture feature. How the heck a person is supposed to function with that strangling them is beyond me! The only improvement would be to glue some real sandpaper to the neck, where it rubs. Ask me how I know!:p
 
smellie said:
BTW, anybody notice WHO is watching the shooting in Photo Number 2? None other than The Honourable Member for Lindsay!

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Not so far. I knew that you would, but I purposely left that little nugget of information out to see just how long it would take until anyone twigged onto it.

These were pictures from a private photo album that is Archived in a University Library, and probably have not been readily printed like some of the Government ones.

A couple more, perhaps?
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And one of the most famous Bears in the World
Winnie the Pooh
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Sir Sam Hughes?
smellie said:
The MacAdam Shovel was one of the most utterly useless pieces of equipment ever foisted upon the suffering soldiers of any nation.

So saith The Conventional Wisdom.

I wonder why nobody ever told that to the Austrians and the Swiss?

BTW, anybody notice WHO is watching the shooting in Photo Number 2? None other than The Honourable Member for Lindsay!

Great pics, Buff! Where EVER do you dig some of these up?
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Click to expand...
 
Steppenwolf wins by correctly answering the question of the day!

Sir Sam Hughes Himself it is.

Sorry SMELLIE, no professionals allowed. You never gave full disclosure that you Majored in History and therefore are disqualified.
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You mean I LOSE????????

And I SO much wanted to win the big can of Goat's-hock Soup with Parsnips!

Now I'm gonna cry!

Oh well, at least the Cat still loves me....... I think.......
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Just to make it interesting, there was another person that I did not identify. Much harder to recognize than Sam Hughes, but a very famous Marksman. A Private in 1913 but now a Sergeant in 1914. The very capable man shooting the Ross in the first two pictures.

William Hawkins

William Hawkins qualified for eleven Bisley teams. He was Canadian Fullbore Rifle Champion once and came in Third once. He won the Grand Aggregate once, was Second once and Third twice. He took Third Place in the Governor General's Final once and was Champion of the Decade for the 1920s.

At Bisley, he took the King’s Prize in 1913, made four King’s Prize Finals, and was in the Top 50 of the Grand Aggregate five times. For his win in the King’s Prize, he used a Ross Rifle.
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McAdam shovels are worth a fair penny today. I wonder if the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa even has one?
 
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