| Place | Oceania: Australia, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/19666 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Firearm |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | 1915 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 First World War, 1914-1918 |
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No 1 Mk III Rifle with target sight: Leading Torpedo Operator Arthur Otto Hussey, RAN
Description
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No 1 Mk III Rifle. Receiver marked LITHGOW Sht LE III within a shield over 1915 and knox form stamped 2nd MD 38373. Butt stamped 38373 3/16 and carved A HUSSEY. The rifle has a heavy barrel dated 1918 but no rear sight. It is fitted with a Central No 4 aperture target sight and mounting plate.
History / Summary
This rifle was owned by Arthur Otto Hussey who served in the Royal Australian Navy as a Leading Seaman and Leading Torpedo Operator. Leading Seaman Hussey served in both the First and Second World Wars on a number of RAN ships. During the Second World War he was trained in mine warfare disposal and was granted special permission by the Captain of his ship to have his personal target rifle on board to be used for exploding mines deemed to be too dangerous for normal disposal procedures. The rifle was originally acquired by him from the Department of Defence via the National Rifle Association on or about 1935. Before and after the war he used it for competition shooting matches. The markings on the butt indicate that the rifle was originally issued to the Second Military District (New South Wales) in March 1916. The family refered to the rifle as 'Old Unk' after Hussey's nickname.