Postcard. Maxim Gun detachment, MGC, post – 2nd July 1916. Respirators.

R Guilleminot, Boesspflug et Cio – Paris This is one of a pair of postcards showing the same Maxim gun detachment. By July 1916—the date shown on the board at the front of the group—the Maxim had largely been replaced by the Vickers and only a few remained in front-line service. This will be one of the last on the Western Front. It is fitted with the muzzle attachment for ball firing of .303-inch ammunition which enabled the recoil of the heavier working parts as it was designed for the more-powerful .45-inch round. The ammunition belt is loaded with Mark VI round-nosed .303-inch ammunition, which had also largely been replaced by the Mark VII spitzer-style bullet. The No 3 belt box has the long carrying strap.
They are all wearing covered steel helmets, one with an MGC cap badge pinned through the cover. They are wearing the short-lived large box respirators and 1908 pattern web equipment.
The SMLE rifles are all fitted with the 1907 pattern bayonet and the man on the right is carrying a Spanish Universal Pattern No 1 revolver—introduced whilst there were insufficient Webley revolvers for all men. The pistol lanyard is now worn around the arm and through the shoulder strap. SKR0002.4012 1916 See Pages 12-15 of Postcards of the Machine Gun Corps, Volume I. https://vickersmg.blog/product/postcards1/ On loan from Graham Sacker.