The Outpost Vol 1 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

176 THE OUTPOST.
S.M.L.E., Mk. 1.*, (C.)
Md., H. V.A.
THE above somewhat cryptogramic condensation
is the War Office description of
the rifles which are now arriving from the great
Government Ordnance Stores at ---, and
are being issued to the 17th H.L.L as our
service arms, and with which presently our
whole brigade will be equipped.
The question is sometimes asked why the
British regular should be armed with a rifle
which is so short and dumpy in appearance
when compared with the rifles used by all other
armies; its barrel being in fact from five to
eight inches shorter than the barrels of foreign
rifles.
Well, its design was one of the results of the
South African \Var of 1899-1902. Profiting
by the lessons of that struggle, and with a view
to thlCl simplification and consequent cheapening
of the manufacture of our military small-arms,
the War Office authorities instructed the expert
designers at Enfield Lock and at the B.S.A.
Works to make out specifications for a weapon
which could be used by all the services alikeinfantry,
cavalry, artillery. engineers, the Royal
Navy, Indian and Colonial troops, etc.
The product of their labours was a kind of
compromise between the ordinary long rifle and
the carbine, viz., the Short Rifle, ~Iark I.,
Model 1905, a really fine, strong, well-balanced
little weapon which gave excellent results, but
which was designed only to handle and fire the
Mark VI. cartridge, at that time the standard
British ammunition.
With the introduction in 1:908 of the much
more powerful Mark VII. cartridge, however,
another factor came into play, namely, the
increased strain on the barrel and thrust of the
explosion on the bolt-head, amounting to an
extra five tons per square inch of chamberpressure.
This led to the designing of the :.'VIark n.,
Mark In. and Mark IV. Short Rifles, all of
whJch have extra-strong bolt closures.
And now, at this crisis in the Empire's
history, when the demand for service rifles is so
insistent, the very wise course is being taken of
altering and adapting all suitable ~Iark 1. arms
for use with the latest and most powerful
propellant.
The Short Magazine Lee-E)1field, Mark One
Star, Converted and Modifiectfor High-Velocity
Ammunition (to write all the cryptogram out in
full), is the same weapon as the first issue of the
British Short Rifle, but with certain verv
important improvements which fit it to take its
place as one of the most efficient military rifles
in use by atly army at the present time.
Firstly, the back-sight bed has been lowered
to allow for the flatter trajectory of the 174­
grain Mark VII. bullet. But the chief improvement
has been the stronger bolt with larger
locking-lug and bolt-head forming a powerful
wedge-grip behind the cartridge base. Also
a special auxiliary spring and extra lip have been
fitted to the magazine, giving a still nearer
approach to certainty in handling the n",edlepointed
bullet. In addition, many, if not all of
the rifles have been re-barrelled with finest
high-tensile chrome-steel barrels; altogether,
the Mark I. >11 forms as good and reliable a rifle as
any soldier need wish to handle and use.
On every barrel, just under the back-sight
elevating wheel, can be seen the Government
Proof-house stamp--HV, indicating that the
barrel and breech-action have successfully
withstood the severe strain of the final
proof-charge, which develops the tremendous
internal pressure of something like 3I tons per
square inch; the rifle is thus guaranteed for use
with the high-velocity cartridge.
The sliding charger-guide carried by the
bolt-head is perhap~. not quite so strong and
certain in its action as the bridge charger-guide
of later models, but many experienced shots,
whose 0pinions are worthy of respect, prefer the
former; a cours~ of steady practice in its use
will ensure surprisingly smart rapid-fire.
As to weight, the rifle is fully a pound
lighter than the original Lee-Metford, and, with
the long and terribly effective 1907 model
sword-bayonet, makes a combination which is
infinitely superior for hand-to-hand work to
the clumsy and top-heavy bayoneted Mauser of
the German infantryman, and partly explains
the growing disinclination of our foes to stand
the shock of British steel.
The Patriot.
MARK DRUMMOND, Sergt.
HIS the great love of a great heart
In which no selfish thought had part,
A love that sought no other prize
Than this-all things to sacrifice
To her he loved-his native land.
Of baser motives had he none,
No hope of glory spurred him on,
No love of battle, lust or strife,
He only knew he gave his life
For her he loved-his native land.
His grave is 'neath an alien sky;
No marble pillar rearing high
Doth mark the place where he is laid,
\Vho faced Hell's fury, unafraid,
For her he loved-his native land.
R.B.