shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Whilst typing away today I found myself typing this letter from a Captain of one of the Soldiers on my local Memorial. As anyone from this Battalion will tell you, our best men are always Lewis Gunners and your son was one of these. In spite of his bad eyesight, he was extremely keen and efficient, and it is the loss of such men we find it difficult to replace Lewis Gunner with bad eyesight !! Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 (edited) I imagine a man with bad eyesight would be more effective with a Lewis gun than with a rifle. Perhaps his "keenness and efficency" made up for it. Just my opinion. Roger. Edited 30 December , 2005 by roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Roger I was thinking along those lines - Found it strange that the Captain would even think to mention his eyesight. Not sure the dead mans mother needed to be reminded of her sons bad eyesight ! Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 I agree, but he could have been the No 2 on the gun team. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Just out of interest Glyn who was the man in question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2005 I agree, but he could have been the No 2 on the gun team. John Good shout John - Admit I hadn't thought of that. Roger He was Name: MONK, WILLIAM THOMAS Initials: W T Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Royal Berkshire Regiment Unit Text: "C" Coy. 6th Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 31/07/1917 Service No: 36407 Additional information: Son of Mr. G. E. Monk, of Lower St., Stansted, Essex. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 45. Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Regards Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2005 And here's a pic of him with his younger brother - I will let you decide which one he is. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Wouldn't it be more important for the No 2 to have good eyesight? Pretty sure No2 did the spotting and conned the gunner onto likely targets. I've been looking for something to back this theory up but can't find anything so it is just a theory. Thanks for posting the images Glyn. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Roger Found this website - Quite informative http://www3.sympatico.ca/wmburns/Lewis.html Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Roger That was why I said the No2. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 Thanks for that Glyn, very interesting. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 30 December , 2005 Share Posted 30 December , 2005 I love it when there's a face to a story! Maybe the LMG role of the Lewis suited the guy better than marsmanship with an SMLE - spread of fire etc? Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 30 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2005 I love it when there's a face to a story! Maybe the LMG role of the Lewis suited the guy better than marsmanship with an SMLE - spread of fire etc? Des So do I Des - and his little Brother who by the way survived the war after being captured during the Battle of the Dunes ( Nieuport ) on 10th July 1917. Reckon it was far eaiser to use a Lewis with bad eyesight - as you say spray the bullets about although as John said he was more likely the No 2. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 31 December , 2005 Share Posted 31 December , 2005 Speaking as one who is as blind as a bat without his specs or contact lenses, I hope I don't sound sniffy - surely the point of specs is to give you good eyesight? Providing Pte Monk wasn't scrabbling around in a shell-hole looking for the blasted things, then his shooting should be as good as anyone's. I know mine was with an SLR back in the early 80's. This thread has the whiff of being spec-ist, if you ask me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 31 December , 2005 Share Posted 31 December , 2005 eye see what you mean. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 1 January , 2006 Share Posted 1 January , 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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