Snider enfield markings...

M

major519

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
39   0   0
Greetings gents

I have just picked up a really nice Mk2* snider enfield.
It is an early conversion with a mint bore.

The stock has the enfield marking stamped into it as well as the DC marking.

I assume the DC is Dominion of Canada.

I am curious as to which regiment this Snider was used by. The buttplate was stamped, x'ed out and then restamped onto the side of the buttstock.

I believe the marking on the buttplate was a 26 with a 400 series number beneath it. The stock has a 27 with a 140 series number beneath it.
I assume that my gun was in service with one unti and sometime thereafter re-issued to another unit?
Any info on which particular units and location would be appreciated.
 
"26th Middlesex Battalion of Infantry" formed 14 September 1866, with HQ at London. Name changed to "26th Middlesex Battalion of Light Infantry" 24 March 1880.

"27th Lambton Battalion of Infantry" formed same date, with HQ at Sarnia. Name changed to "27th Lambton Battalion of Infantry (St. Clair's Borderers)" 01 March 1872.

Canada's individual units of Militia Infantry were designated as "Battalions" until the end of the 19th century, but were re-designated as "Regiments" in early 1900.

green: Wondering about the "Cty" in the desgnations you mentioned ....
 
Mangil said:
Where can I find that kind of info...is it availiable somewhere online???

Mine is stamped "23"
Click to expand...

That one is is a little problematic, as there were actually three separate units designated as the "23rd" .....

- 23rd Brockville Battalion; HQ at Brockville Ont.; formed 1863; disbanded 1866. Your rifle would not have been issued to this Unit, as the first Snider-Enfield rifles did not arrive in Canada until 1867.

- 23rd Essex Battalion of Infantry; HQ at Windsor; formed 1866; disbanded unofficially 1868 and officially 1870. Possibly this unit, but unlikely due to its very short-lived existence.

However, since I gather you are in Quebec and presume your rifle more than likely came from there, I'd say the unit number on it probably indicates that it was issued to the 23rd Beauce Battalion of Infantry. HQ at St. Marie, PQ; first formed as the Provisional Battalion of Beauce in 1869; designated as 23rd Battalion in 1871; absorbed in 1899 by the 92nd Dorchester Battalion of Infantry. Subsequent re-designations were:
- 1900, 92nd Dorchester Regiment;
- 1920, Le Régiment de Dorchester;
- January 1921, The Beauce Regiment;
- May 1921, Le Régiment de Beauce:
- 1936, Le Régiment de la Chaudière (Mitrailleuses);
- 1941, Le Régiment de la Chaudière.

A good library of references is really necessary to dig out some of this detail, but there is a list of the 95 numbered Battalions of Volunteer Militia formed during the 19th century posted by me here:
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/topic/7472
 
GrantR said:
However, since I gather you are in Quebec and presume your rifle more than likely came from there, I'd say the unit number on it probably indicates that it was issued to the 23rd Beauce Battalion of Infantry. HQ at St. Marie, PQ;
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot... You are probably right with the Beauce Battalion

The old gentleman who gave me the Snider is turning 91 next week, from what he remember, the gun has always been in his familly... His father was from New Brunswick... his mother was from the Beauce region near Quebec
 
Find out anything you can about it while the old gentleman still is in condition to tell you.

There are a MILLION questions I wish that I had asked..... and now no answers are possible.

Try not to make the same mistake.

Congrats on a beautiful old Snider. I DO hope you're going to shoot it.

Have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom