MO,s Automatic

[Male VAD]

I am re reading Surgery on trestles .

The memoirs of a Medical Officer in the Mespotimia campaign.

He often quotes going out with the men armed with their rifles and him armed with his automatic . as proction against the Bedu tridesmen

I am presumingit was a pistol ? if so what sort?

 

Cheers

 

Kevin

 

[4thGordons]

Officers purchased their own side-arms so the possibilities are numerous. They were supposed to be standardized around a couple of official calibres but even this is subject to considerable variation.

 

The most likely "official" type would probably be a Webley .455 Self Loading Pistol (aka "automatic") or perhaps a 1911 in .455, but in reality, particularly in Mesopotamia, it could have been any number of other types too, it is hard to be more specific without additional information. Does the book have any pictures of him? It might be possible to make a more informed guess if even a holster is visible.

 

Chris

[MikB]

Statistically, it's probably more likely to have been a 7,65mm/.32" that anything else. Their 'stopping power' might've been a bit questionable, but they were easy to pocket, straightforward to use and generally reliable - probably the best sort of auto for a man whose primary role was not supposed to be fighting.

[Chasemuseum]

2 hours ago, MikB said:

Statistically, it's probably more likely to have been a 7,65mm/.32" that anything else. Their 'stopping power' might've been a bit questionable, but they were easy to pocket, straightforward to use and generally reliable - probably the best sort of auto for a man whose primary role was not supposed to be fighting.

 

Agree with Mike B

 

If as  a medical officer he did not want to wear a holster on his sam-browne but rather just carry the pistol discretely in the lower pocket of his tunic, one of the various commercial .32 automatics is likely. Probably a Belgium FN made M1900 or M1910. By comparison the Webley .455 auto is a very physically large and heavy pistol.

Cheers

Ross 

[MikB]

18 hours ago, Chasemuseum said:

 

Agree with Mike B

 

If as  a medical officer he did not want to wear a holster on his sam-browne but rather just carry the pistol discretely in the lower pocket of his tunic, one of the various commercial .32 automatics is likely. Probably a Belgium FN made M1900 or M1910. By comparison the Webley .455 auto is a very physically large and heavy pistol.

Cheers

Ross 

 

They'd be amongst the best if he could get one - but pistols of all types were in very short supply, and gunmakers of all capacities and skill levels were struggling to cope with the steep demand curve. Some of the cheaper Spanish, French and Belgian autos that left Europe awash with .32s by the end of the war were still quite workmanlike and serviceable, and may have had better availability.

[James McNair]

On ‎14‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 20:29, Shiny said:

Hi All,

 

I'm researching a relative who's record says he was shot in the thigh by a German Officer's revolver.

 

Can I take from this post that there wasn't a standard issue German officer's revolver but it was likely to have been a 7.65mm caliber?

 

Thanks,

 

Michael

 

I'm inclined to agree with others who have suggested that a smaller calibre pistol would be the most likely weapon. Again as already said it could be one of many options , Webley , Colt , Browning , et al . I'm afraid more info or a photo might be needed to nail it down precisely. 

[Male VAD]

Thanks one and all for the answers. ,Unfortunatly there are no pictures . The author also mentions that his RAMC  sergeant also has an automatic pistol

 

Cheers

 

Kevin