In the trenches-

[JB White]

I thought if a sniper round came in someone would yell, "Hey Hans, is that you?"

The sniper would stand up and reply, "No, it's Me...Fritz!!"

[John Sukey]

If you can find it on the net, the book "A rifleman went to war" by McBride is well worth reading

[PhillipM]

I spoke with a friend the other day whose father was in a machine gun platoon with a potato digger. His father said that one had to be really careful going down into a trench or shell hole after a gas attack because the gas was heavier than air and would just sit there. Many found out the hard way.

[John Sukey]

The reason we had "Potato diggers". The then chief of ordnance HATED Col. Lewis, and did his best to block adoption of the Lewis gun. His excuse? We need to test it, despite the fact it had been in use by the British since the start of the war!!!!!!
Yes, the Lewis was in .303 while we were using the 30-06 round, BUT that was a minor adjustment that could easily have been done at the factory.

[mike webb]

The Lewis gun was actually a pretty good light machine gun, much better then the Colt Browning. The Lewis also shot down a huge number of German aircraft as it was used extensively by the RAF in fighter aircraft.

[John Sukey]

The Lewis gun was actually a pretty good light machine gun, much better then the Colt Browning. The Lewis also shot down a huge number of German aircraft as it was used extensively by the RAF in fighter aircraft.

Plus it shot down Richthofen but they gave the credit to the wrong guy. It was a Canadian Lewis gunner from the trenches NOT the camel pilot. The post mortem proved he was shot from below, NOT from behind!

[BruceHMX]

Plus it shot down Richthofen but they gave the credit to the wrong guy. It was a Canadian Lewis gunner from the trenches NOT the camel pilot. The post mortem proved he was shot from below, NOT from behind!

Wonder if the guy that shot at his plane knew he had killed him?

[John Sukey]

I think he did find out, but later.

[Shooter5]

The Lewis gun was actually a pretty good light machine gun, much better then the Colt Browning. The Lewis also shot down a huge number of German aircraft as it was used extensively by the RAF in fighter aircraft.

My granpa qualified on a Lewis gun during basic training Jan-May 1942 in California.

[leeshall]

IIRC the only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor used the Lewis gun protecting Marines during a landing/pickup on a Pacific island.