Carbine or Lee Enfield?

[Ivor]

I'm doing a bit of research and was wondering if anyone can inform me as to what the Dragoons would have been carrying and firing when those first shots were fired on 22nd August 1914 at Casteau - carbines or Lee Enfields? I thought it was the Short Magazine Lee Enfield Mark 3 rifle whilst my father thinks that the cavalry carried the carbine.

Thanks

[paul guthrie]

Don't know Ivor but bet you can find the rifle used on mother site.

[Ivor]

Paul,

Thanks, I never thought of looking on there.

Ivor

[Paul Reed]

Cavalry were issued with the SMLE in 1914; the carbine had been phased out some years before.

[Muerrisch]

Cavalry were issued with the SMLE in 1914; the carbine had been phased out some years before.

Cavalry were issued with the SMLE long before 1914: it was on general issue by 1907 to almost all regular forces. It had even reached general issue in India, a process that took considerable time. The whole point of the SMLE was that it was for general issue: big enough to be superbly accurate and killing, small enough to carry on the saddle.

[Ivor]

Thanks, I was 99% sure I was right.

Cheers,

Ivor