Analysis of photos containing the Vickers Machine Gun.

Rather than just include the photos we find in another video, we're trying a new format where the photo is the subject of the video. Using my knowledge of the Vickers machine gun and the uniforms and equipment used with it, I analyse the content of the photo and the equipment and actions in it to identify some of the nuances that are so often overlooked.
In this first photo of the series, the 9th Battalion of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers are on exercise in Wales in September 1941, just before they were sent to Singapore, where they were promptly captured.

The source of the photo is the Imperial War Museum: THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45

Please do let me know what you think. Rather than a new thread each time we do one, I'll add them as replies here.

 

Captioned by the IWM as: "The King inspects an airborne jeep fitted with a Vickers machine-gun during a visit to airborne forces in Southern Command, at Netheravon Aerodrome 21 May 1942. With him is Major-General Frederick 'Boy' Browning, GOC 1st Airborne Division." Let's take a look and see if I can explain why the Vickers MMG is being used like this and what the other weapons and features of the photo are.

The source of the photo is the Imperial War Museum: THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45

 

Photo Analysis: 2nd Kensingtons at Rauray, June 1944

A photo that doesn't obviously contain a Vickers machine gun, but it most certainly does. It also has a lot of accessories and, specifically, the only photo commonly used that shows the 'Pointer, Staff, Mk I' in use. This is an 'action' photo from Normandy, shorly after Operation OVERLORD. The source of the photos are the Imperial War Museum: B 6139 - https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205955

 

Radial Anti-Aircraft Mounting 1944 (#VickersMG photo analysis)

A pair of Vickers MGs mounted on the Radial Anti-Aircraft Mounting. In use with Australian troops in Queensland. This was a standard 'ack-ack' mount used in the back of the 15-cwt. trucks by the British Army.

The manual for this mounting (as shown in the video) is at: Small Arms Training Manuals

Photo 017921 at the Australian War Memorial: Queensland. Twin Vickers gun on a radial ack-ack mounting. Royal Marines who took part in the ... Please do let us know what you think. Do you see anything that Rich didn't talk about and you want to know more? Make sure you subscribe and support us on Patreon and you'll get to take part in polls that decide the next month's photo. Get in touch and let us know what photos you'd like to see analysed. Please support the Association on Patreon to develop more of them: Vickers MG Collection and Research Association is creating Military history videos and sharing research | Patreon Also like our page on Facebook: Vickers MG Collection & Research Association And follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/vickersmg

 

Commando Vickers Machine Gunners in 1945 (#VickersMG photo analysis)

Our next Vickers machine gun photo analysis. This is Imperial War Museum photo BU 2329 showing Vickers machine gunners of the 1st Commando Brigade (probably No 6 Commando) at Wesel during Operation PLUNDER and the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. Our page on the Commando establishment: Commando and our page on the Army Commando units: Royal Marines and Army Commandos Sorry about the audio changes in this. We’ve tried to make it better but there’s a noticeable difference between our PC and iPhone recordings, albeit using the same microphone. We’ll try to resolve next time. This was chosen by our #EmmaGees - our Patrons - at www.patreon.com/vickersmg. Please sign up to support the Vickers MG Collection & Research Association.

 

43rd Division Vickers Machine Guns near Hill 112 (#VickersMG Film Analysis!)

After a suggestion on YouTube, we've trialled a film analysis in a similar style to the photo analyses that we've done. This has been put together quite quickly but we hope you enjoy it. The software is now purchased using funds from Patrons so this will certainly be something we try and do more of in the future. This is footage of Vickers machine guns of the 8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 43rd (Wessex) Division preparing and then firing in support of the Divisions actions on or near Hill 112 in Normandy, July 1944. From IWM: MACHINE-GUNS IN ACTION ON 43RD (WESSEX) DIVISION'S FRONT NEAR HILL 112 [Allocated Title]

 

A second video of the 1/8th Bn Middlesex Regiment supporting 43rd (Wessex) Div around Hill 112.



This is the second piece of footage of Vickers machine guns of the 8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 43rd (Wessex) Division preparing and then firing in support of the Divisions actions on or near Hill 112 in Normandy, July 1944. It includes members of the platoon stripping and cleaning the gun, as well as putting it back on the Universal Carrier, before then firing the guns from their positions in the field. More information on the 8th Bn Middlesex Regiment is here: The Middlesex Regiment From IWM: A MACHINE-GUN PLATOON IN ACTION ON 43RD (WESSEX) DIVISION'S SECTOR OF THE FRONT NEAR HILL 112 [Allocated Title]

 

#VickersMG Film Analysis: French Battlefront Brevities 1944

Our next film analysis is a clip from British Pathe of the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - the ‘Tyne Tees.’

 

#VickersMG of 2/7 Middlesex at Anzio, March 1944 (Photo Study)

Our next photo study follows a request from one of the Members of the Association asking about a photo that featured in an 'On This Day' post only a few days ago (8 March). It shows the 2/7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, the Divisional (Support) Battalion of the 1st Division at Anzio. It is 8 March 1944.
There are some details on the gun that, even though it's being fired in practice, give an insight into the operations. We also use a second photo from just a couple of weeks before to show the point and, even better, we compare the detail to one of the guns in the collection, bring together the onscreen research with the physical artefacts.

The photos are from the Imperial War Museum:
THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944
THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944

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