LEWIS GUN SCHOOL [Main Title]

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  • Title: LEWIS GUN SCHOOL [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 438
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Training exercises for the Lewis machine gun, demonstrated by sergeant instructors of the Machine Gun Corps, possibly at Aldershot, probably before the end of the First World War.
  • Description: I. A Machine Gun Section of seven men with one Lewis gun walking in line across an open field comes to a ridge, and the men form for action. Four men go forward to set up the machine gun (a gunner, a loader and two ammunition carriers) while of the other three, one forms a near-flank guard and the other two cover the open flank. If the Lewis jams the gunner and loader move it behind the ridge while the near-flank guard takes their place with his rifle until the jam is cleared. II. While the remainder watch at attention, two of the sergeant instructors demonstrate the various hand signals between a Lewis gunner and his loader. Then the sergeant-major (note the four stripes, and crown on his sleeve) stands beside them to demonstrate the signals given by a platoon commander to a Lewis gunner to alter his fire. III. To the end of this film has been added some material of German and British machine guns from IWM 347 ROMICOURT - ARMENTIERES NEAR ESTAIRES.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 438)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1917
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Machine Gun Corps (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: training, British military - combat: machine gun & [+] (object name) weapons, British - smallarm: Lewis machine gun (object name) 31/3(41) (?) (event) GB, England & Aldershot area, Hants (?) (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 375 ft; Running time: 6 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Title: this is taken from the shotsheet Summary: see also IWM 347 Remarks: the drill is basically sound, but shows the British error in not using an NCO observer in addition to the two-man crew of the machine gun to direct its fire
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 438

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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