This page contains commercially-produced and unofficial manuals, handbooks and pamphlets. It also includes the hndbooks for the commercial sales of Vickers MGs by Vickers themselves.
Many of our downloads and online manuals are provided free-of-charge for the benefit of anyone that wants to know more about the use of the Vickers Machine Gun and read what the Machine Gunners would have known. We also have a vast amount of archival documents, photographs, postcards and other resources. To help us fund the Charity and the management of this archive we host it on Patreon. This is a subscription service like Ancestry, FindMyPast and other repositories. We have thousands of military history items that may contain information you’re interested in.
It can be accessed from as little as £3 per month.
If you’d prefer to only give on a one-off basis, then go to PayPal or BuyMeACoffee and make a donation there but we are unable to provide access to the archive through those sites.
1908-1919:
The Territorial Machine Gunner
1909, United Kingdom
A small pamphlet for territorial battalions to keep record of their machine gunner training and provide an aide memoire for the machine gunners themselves.
Low-resolution PDF download: 705 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (2nd Edition)
May 1913, United Kingdom
This edition of the Machine Gunners’ Handbook is too early for the diagrams of the Vickers Light Gun to be included and developments were constantly happening in this period.
Low-resolution PDF download: 9,601 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (3rd Edition)
October, 1914, United Kingdom
This edition of the Machine Gunners’ Handbook, the first wartime edition, is too early for the diagrams of the Vickers Light Gun to be included and developments were constantly happening in this period, hence the fourth and fifth editions being published in the same month.
Low-resolution PDF download: 39,282 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
How to Instruct in Aiming and Firing
1914, United Kingdom
A commercial manual produced to aid students at the School of Musketry, Hythe, as those students were to become instructors in aiming and firing. It would also be purchased by other instructors from across the British Army.
Low-resolution PDF download: 6.27 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (5th Edition)
October 1914, United Kingdom
This edition of the Machine Gunners’ Handbook, the first wartime edition, is too early for the diagrams of the Vickers Light Gun to be included and developments were constantly happening in this period, hence the third fourth editions being published in the same month.
Low-resolution PDF download: 17,540 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Notes on Army Signalling: A Handbook of Reference for Signallers
1915, Gale & Polden
A Gale & Polden commercial handbook on Army Signalling. It compiles a range of service manuals into a single publication. It covers Morse, Semaphore and a little wireless.
Available for Patrons here.
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (6th Edition)
June 1915, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the Maxim, the Vickers and the Lewis automatic machine guns.
Low-resolution PDF download: 20,497 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Guide for the Vickers Machine Gun (Magazine Rifle Chamber)
1915, United Kingdom
A pocket-sized manual made for the individual officer to learn from rather than teach from. It contains question and answer sets and is written in a very easy manner. A real classic example of Great War commercial manuals.
Low-resolution PDF download: 11,510 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
A Short Description of the Vickers Light Automatic Gun (Class “C”)
1915, Worldwide
A brief introduction to the Class ‘C’ gun (the commercial version of the Mk I) that includes a description of the gun and its operation and simple instructions for operation.
Low-resolution PDF download: 647 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the Vickers Rifle Calibre Gun, Light Model (Class C)
1915, Worldwide
Even though the Great War had started in 1914, Vickers Limited were still providing machine guns to other countries either allies or neutral. This is the handbook for the Class C gun, the commercial equivalent of the Mark I. It was advertised as the light model, as opposed to the Maxim.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,275 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (7th Edition)
July 1915, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the Maxim, the Vickers and the Lewis automatic machine guns.
Low-resolution PDF download: 17,422 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (8th Edition)
November 1915, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the Maxim, the Vickers and the Lewis automatic machine guns of the British Army and it also included the Colt machine guns being used by Canadian.
Low-resolution PDF download: 39,563 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Some Lectures and Notes on Machine Guns
1915, United Kingdom
A handbook to be read by instructors alongside the more technical handbooks and manuals on machine gunnery. It’s written by Major N K Charteris of the School of Musketry, Hythe, where the first machine gun training courses were held.
Low-resolution PDF download: 15,254 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Training (.303 and .22 Cartridges)
1916, United Kingdom
Part of a series of manuals for officers that covered a range of subjects. This is about the drill of a machine gun section, the tactical handling of machine guns as well as fire control of multiple guns and firing the annual machine gun course.
Low-resolution PDF download: 15,254 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbok (9th Edition)
January 1916, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the Maxim, the Vickers and the Lewis automatic machine guns of the British Army and it also included the Colt machine guns being used by Canadian.
Low-resolution PDF download: 20,308 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (10th Edition)
April 1916, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the Maxim, the Vickers and the Lewis automatic machine guns of the British Army and it also included the Colt machine guns being used by Canadian.
Low-resolution PDF download: 19,938 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Manual
1917, United Kingdom
A commercial manual written by Captain H Douglas of the Sherwood Foresters who was a competitive shot in the British Army. It covers the technical aspects of the Maxim, Vickers, Lewis, Colt, and Hotchkiss as well as drill and use in the field.
Low-resolution PDF download: 21.5 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
A.B.C. du Mitrailleur
1917, France
A french-language manual that covers the St-Etienne, Hotchkiss, Colt, Vickers as well the German Maxim MG08. It includes mechanism, drills, transport and tactics for each.
Low-resolution PDF download: 18,242 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook (11th Edition)
January 1917, United Kingdom
This comprehensive manual for machine guns in the Great War included, in this edition, the list of machine guns covered has reduced to the Vickers and the Lewis which were the automatic weapons in use with the British and Empire countries at the time.
Low-resolution PDF download: 31,521 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Machine Gunners’ Handbook – Addendum to the 11th Edition – Barrage Fire for Machine Guns
October 1917, United Kingdom
As tactics developed, the manuals had to as well. This addendum to The Machine Gunners’ Handbook covers barrage fire.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,713 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook for the Vickers (.303 in.) Machine Gun
1917, United States of America
A pocket-sized manual designed to help American machine gun offers who were using the Vickers machine gun. It includes a question and answer section as well as material sourced from other manuals and handbook of the time.
Low-resolution PDF download: 5,431 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
1920-1938:
Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Gun. Model 1924-25.
circa 1925, World Service
An early manual for the Vickers-Berthier Model 1924-25. This was a light machine gun that Vickers bought the rights to from Berthier and promoted as their commercial alternative, eventually seeking to replace the Lewis automatic rifle in British service.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,243 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Vickers Berthier Machine Rifle, Model 1925-1926
1926, Vickers Limited
A Vickers Limited handbook on the Vickers-Berthier. Still called a Machine Rifle at this point, it would become Vickers’ offer for the LMG competition to replace the Lewis.
Available for Patrons here.
Ametralladora Automatica Vickers Calibre 7.65mm Class “F”
1929, World Service
The Class F was Vickers’ aircraft observers gun with a drum magazine instead of belt-feed. It was not used by the British but did have some commercial sales around the world, which this manual was intended for.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2.73 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Vickers Berthier Machine Rifle. Model 1928-1929.
circa 1929, World Service
A commercial handbook to accompany the Vickers Class L, better known as the Vickers-Berthier, that was sold around the world. This is for the Model 1928-29 variant that was still being marketed as a ‘machine rifle’.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1.78 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Vickers .5-inch Automatic Gun for Aeroplanes
1920s, World Service
An early handbook for the High Velocity Vickers .5-inch machine gun designed for air service. This is possibly what would later become known as the Class B gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,253 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Sporting Guns and Rifles
circa 1928, Vickers Limited
An interest different kind of Vickers gun – no machine guns here! We have one of the Target Rifles in the collection which is a nice addition and maybe one day we’ll have a Vickers shotgun.
Available for Patrons here.
The Making of the Military Shot
1930, School of Musketry
A fascinating publication from the School of Musketry (by now the Small Arms School) at Hythe about how to take a soldier and get him shooting in the military way.
Plenty of tips in here for the modern user of historic service rifles.
Vickers .5-inch Automatic Gun, Mark C, for Aeroplanes
Circa 1930, Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
A handbook on the commercial .5-inch Vickers MG for aeroplane use, which didn’t seem to be adopted by anyone.
Available for Patrons here.
Mitrailleuse Vickers A Calibre De Fusil (Classe E.)
Circa 1930, Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.
We are big fans of foreign language manuals from Vickers. They often feature different accessories and items that were only used by the customer country. This is the French manual for the Class E.
Available for Patrons here.
The Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Gun
Circa 1932, World Service
An early manual for the Vickers-Berthier that includes pictures of the gun in service with British troops, presumably for trials or models in British equipment from Vickers-Armstrongs for publicity purposes.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2,571 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the Vickers Machine Gun (Water Cooled) for Land Service (Class “C” – Rifle Calibre).
circa 1935, World Service
The Class C was the commercial variant of the Mark I land service Vickers machine gun. It was sold extensively around the world during the 1920s and 1930s in a range of calibres to suit the customer. The gun resembles the Mark I but includes a range of accessories and minor alterations not available in British service.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2,782 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the Vickers Machine Gun (Water Cooled) for Land Service (Class “C” – Rifle Calibre) (M4/2)
circa 1935, World Service
The Class C was the commercial variant of the Mark I land service Vickers machine gun. It was sold extensively around the world during the 1920s and 1930s in a range of calibres to suit the customer. The gun resembles the Mark I but includes a range of accessories and minor alterations not available in British service. This is an amended second edition.
Low-resolution PDF download: 6,386 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Ametralladora Vickers Calibre de Fusil Clase “C”
circa 1935, Argentina
A manual for the Class ‘C’ commercial Vickers machine gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,626 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the Vickers 12.7 mm. (0.5-inch) Automatic Gun (Class D*)
circa 1935, World Service
Designed as an anti-armour and anti-aircraft gun, the Class D* used a different .5-inch round the British service ammunition but was only used by a few countries around the world.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,121 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Manual de la Ametralladora Vickers Para Pilotos de Aviones (Clase “E” – Calibre de Fusil)
circa 1935, Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
Another Class E manual in a foreign language – this time Spanish. The Class E was probably one of the more successful export guns. This is for the pilot’s variant rather than the wing gun.
Available for Patrons here.
Handbook of the Vickers Aircraft Observer’s Machine Gun (Class “F” – Rifle Calibre)
circa 1935, World Service
The Class F was Vickers’ aircraft observers gun with a drum magazine instead of belt-feed. It was not used by the British but did have some commercial sales around the world, which this manual was intended for.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,709 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Gun (for Land Service)
Circa 1935, World Service
This hard-backed manual for the Vickers-Berthier is from the series of ‘Mark’ guns rather than year models. It is full of technical information on the gun and its accessories.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,848 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Vickers-Armstrongs 12.7m/m (0.5 in.) Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank Equipments
Circa 1935, Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
This handbook is sales material showing the Class D guns on tripod and twin mountings. This was the most powerful Vickers machine gun produced but was never used by the British Army.
Available for Patrons here.
The Armourer’s Handbook: Part III Light Machine Guns
1930s, United Kingdom
This commercially-available handbook covered the Vickers-Berthier as well as the Lewis, Bren and Hotchkiss light machine guns.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,977 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Tactical Schemes: From Platoons to Brigades with Solutions and Notes
A. Kearsey, 1932, Gale & Polden Ltd.
Have you ever been interested in what the exercises and tests for command involved? Well this is what officers were using in the 1930s to consider how they would approach different problems. Some great insight into how they were handling the Vickers MG companies each infantry battalion then had.
Available for Patrons here.
Handbook for Ordnance Q.F. 3.7 inch Howitzer Mark I on Naval Mounting, also High Angle Post Mounting for Vickers Machine Gun (Water Cooled) Class “C” Rifle Calibre
1937, Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd for Iraq
A niche manual that includes some information on how the Iraqis were using the Vickers and the specific mounting they had for it.
Available for Patrons here.
Manual de la Ametralladora A.A. 7.65mm Clase K
1938, Argentina
Manual used by the Argentinian Navy for the Vickers Class K used in an anti-aircraft role, possibly on submarines as this is how the gun was commonly used due to its high rate of fire.
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Vickers-Armstrongs Aircraft Armament
circa 1938, World Service
A commercial catalogue for armament offered by Vickers-Armstrongs to its worldwide customers. It include the Vickers Class E, Class F, Vickers-Berthier Observers’ Gun (later the Vickers Class K), .5-inch Pilots Gun (later the Class A) as well as mountings, bombs and bomb controls.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2.89 MB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Handbook of the .303-inch Vickers-Berthier Machine Gun Mark I
circa 1938, World Service
Later versions of the Vickers-Berthier were determined by ‘mark’ rather than year model. This is the hard-backed manual for the Mark I, covering the technical aspects of the gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3.408 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
1939-1975:
The Rangecardograph for the use of Infantry & Machine Gunners
circa 1940, United Kingdom
More a piece of equipment than a manual, the Rangecardograph is a template for constructing range cards, which were used extensive by machine gunners and their range-takers.
Low-resolution PDF download: 348 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Aids to Good Shooting
circa 1940, Gale & Polden Limited
A brilliant manual much of which applies to any shooting, be it military in wartime or target shooting today.
Machine Gun Commanders’ Memory Card (7th Edition)
circa 1940, United Kingdom
This pocket-sized pamphlet is an aide-memoire for machine gun commanders from platoon downwards, setting out their requirements and tasks in different roles, such as defence and attack.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,006 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Commanders’ Memory Card (9th Edition)
circa 1940, United Kingdom
This pocket-sized pamphlet is an aide-memoire for machine gun commanders from platoon downwards, setting out their requirements and tasks in different roles, such as defence and attack.
Low-resolution PDF download: 913 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Commanders’ Memory Card (10th Edition)
circa 1940, United Kingdom
This pocket-sized fold-out card is an aide-memoire for machine gun commanders from platoon downwards, setting out their requirements and tasks in different roles, such as defence and attack.
Low-resolution PDF download: 736 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Commanders’ Memory Card (11th Edition)
April 1940, United Kingdom
This pocket-sized fold-out card is an aide-memoire for machine gun commanders from platoon downwards, setting out their requirements and tasks in different roles, such as defence and attack.
Low-resolution PDF download: 742 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Machine Gun Company & Platoon Commander’s Verbal Orders
circa 1941, United Kingdom
This pocket-sized fold-out card is an aide-memoire for machine gun commanders from companies and platoons, giving them the main headings and descriptions to include in their verbal orders.
Low-resolution PDF download: 640 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Guns for the Home Guard
circa 1941, United Kingdom
A manual produced for the Home Guard that includes the Vickers machine gun, the anti-tank rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, Browning automatic rifle and the Lewis gun. It includes drills and technical information.
Low-resolution PDF download: 6,289 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Know Your Weapons: No. 2 – The .303 Lewis Gun
1941, Nicholson & Watson
Coming soon!
The Vickers Machine Gun. Mechanism Made Easy
circa 1942, United Kingdom
A very common manual for the Vickers M1915. Produced for the Home Guard by Gale and Polden, it describes (with photos) the technical information and drills of the machine gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2,458 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
.300 Vickers Machine Gun. Mechanism Made Easy
1944, United Kingdom
A very common manual for the Vickers M1915. Produced for the Home Guard by Gale and Polden, it describes (with photos) the technical information and drills of the machine gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 2,527 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
How to Remedy and Prevent Stoppages
1942, United Kingdom
Another Home Guard manual. This time it covers the preparations for firing and actions on stoppages for the Vickers machine gun, Browning machine gun, Lewis light machine gun, Browning automatic rifle and Thompson sub-machine gun.
Low-resolution PDF download: 4,533 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Small Arms Manual (1st Edition)
1942, United Kingdom
A very common manual that must have been produced in large quantities, this pocket-sized book covers many different small arms from all of the combatant nations in the Second World War. Barlow had been the secretary, and then member, of the Small Arms Committee for many years. It includes the Vickers-Berthier as well as numerous other weapons.
Low-resolution PDF download: 19,557 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Small Arms Manual (3rd Edition)
1944, United Kingdom
A very common manual that must have been produced in large quantities, this pocket-sized book covers many different small arms from all of the combatant nations in the Second World War. Barlow had been the secretary, and then member, of the Small Arms Committee for many years. This third edition contains further weapons as they were developed during the war.
Low-resolution PDF download: 14,656 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Manual of Modern Automatic Guns
circa 1942, United Kingdom
A small pocket book covering the basics for the weapons in service with the Home Guard: Sten, Bren, Lewis, Thompson, Vickers, Browning and others.
Low-resolution PDF download: 3,548 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Manual of Rifles
Circa 1942, Bernards (Publishers), United Kingdom
Coming soon!
Manual of Small Arms and Special Weapons
Circa 1942, Bernards (Publishers), United Kingdom
Coming soon!
The Vickers Gun Simplified
circa 1942, Australia
It wasn’t just the UK producing additional handbooks that could be purchased privately. This example from Australia covers all aspects of the Vickers, including drills and mechanism.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,452 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Vickers Gun Simplified (Second Edition)
1944, Australia
It wasn’t just the UK producing additional handbooks that could be purchased privately. This example from Australia covers all aspects of the Vickers, including drills and mechanism.
Low-resolutions PDF download: 2,597 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
Guide to War Certificate “A” in Five Parts, Part Four – Drill and Weapon Training (Fourth Edition, Revised)
1945, Gale and Polden Limited, United Kingdom
A commercial publication to help students pass their War Certificate “A”. This part covers drill and weapon training: hints on teaching drill; aide memoire for the potential squad commander; hints on teaching weapon training; indoor lessons on the various weapons; precis of lectures on application of fire; sand table schemes on application of fire; outdoor exercises on weapon training; how to carry out tests of elementary training. It includes quizzes on drill and weapon training.
JPGs and PDF available on Patreon – subscribe to access and support the VMGCRA
Instructions for the Use and Care of the Barr & Stroud Rangefinder
circa 1950s, World Service
The Barr & Stroud Rangefinder served alongside the Vickers for its entire service. They were also exported and this manual is one of the commercial handbooks that accompanied each instrument.
Low-resolution PDF download: 1,680 KB
High-resolution available on archive.org thanks to support through Patreon
The Bren Light Machine Gun
Circa 1950, Gale & Polden
Published by Gale & Polden, this manual is a small ‘user guide’ that is incredibly useful!
Many of our downloads and online manuals are provided free-of-charge for the benefit of anyone that wants to know more about the use of the Vickers Machine Gun and read what the Machine Gunners would have known. We also have a vast amount of archival documents, photographs, postcards and other resources. To help us fund the Charity and the management of this archive we host it on Patreon. This is a subscription service like Ancestry, FindMyPast and other repositories. We have thousands of military history items that may contain information you’re interested in.
It can be accessed from as little as £3 per month.
If you’d prefer to only give on a one-off basis, then go to PayPal or BuyMeACoffee and make a donation there but we are unable to provide access to the archive through those sites.
