General H.Gough

[Khaki]

There is a well known full length photo portrait of General Gough wearing a small flap pistol holster on his sword belt, does anyone know what type of handgun he carried? It appears to be a small frame automatic.

khaki

[TonyE]

It could have perhaps been a Browning, but was more likely to have been a Webley, probably one in .32 ACP (7.65mm). Although in theory officers were supposed to buy pistols in the service calibre (.455), in practice most general officers carried a smaller pistol.

The 1918 Vocabulary of Priced Stores lists .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .38 ACP ammunition as available throught the normal supply system.

If I remember correctly, the holster in the photograph of Gough appears empty. There is a picture of Haig wearing a pistol and his is a Webley in .38 ACP calibre.

Regards

TonyE