Three guardsmen from 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 23 January 1941; IWM H 6864

good day.dbf.today.12:59am.re:large -3.a great picture.as are the others,but this one reminds me of the statu of the American marines on ewogima(spelling?)very moving.as von poop says.a slogan is required.so lets help him.put in your contribution.great thread.stay well.bernard85

Note how the actuator or cocking knob for the bolt in the Thompson gun is pulled to the rear (cocked). Most posed pictures with the Thompson gun show the actuator in the forward position. Since the Thompson gun fires from an open bolt, this makes the weapon safe. An actuator or bolt cannot be lowered on a loaded drum magazine. One has to wonder if the drum is loaded and the safety engaged in this very nice January 1941 IWM photograph. Given the date of the photograph, the Model of 1928AC Thompson gun is of early Savage manufacture and purchased by the British government or Ministry of Supply (MoS) under the cash-and-carry (pre lend-lease) program.