Tommy gun in the ETO

[gary_bath_jr]

Not to be a doubting thomas here but if you read "Tip of the Spear" by Lieutenant-Colonel Bernd Horn and Michel Wyczynski you will see on page 110 the First Canadian Parachute Battalion Training with a Thompson, then on page 176 a picture of glider pilots being evacuated by 1 can Para in and the man on the left is holding a Thompson. As a side note you will find some Universal Carriers on page 192 and 210.

Gary

[Gerry McGinty]

Gary, it has to be said that in the same book, on page 144, there is a list of weapons used by the 'paras' and while including the different marks of Sten, it does not mention Thompsons.

I would suggest that hard and fast rules regarding Thompsons in Italy and Stens in NW Europe should be treated with caution as firstly, the Commandos usually used Thompsons rather than Stens and secondly there are references (eg. "One Night in June" by Kevin Shannon & Stephen Wright - page 35) that point to the Glider Pilot Regiment being given a very wide choice of what weapon they would prefer to use - in fact the pilot in question chose a Bren as his personal weapon!!!

Hope this helps

Gerry

[John McGillivray]

Here is a photo of troops from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada on patrol near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 22 January 1945. The lead soldier is carring a Thompson MG.

http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_a...-v6&back_url=()

[Gerry McGinty]

John, Great picture which really proves a point.
Very interestingly, the fourth figure in the column looks to be carrying a Mark II Sten! If this is the case, it is a great example of why we should be open-minded in this topic.

Regards

Gerry

[gary_bath_jr]

My thoughts as well, I was trying to show that there was evidence that tommy's were used.

Gary

[Jordan Baker]

I remember talking with a few RHLI vets about the use of Thompson SMG's. Early on in the war I was told that they were lucky if the Platoon Sgt/Mjr had one and that was it.

The other vet said he had one with him in NWE, interestingly he stated he got rid of the butt stock to save space. Sadly he couldn't provide much more detail. Im not sure if he was a driver as to me that would make most sense.

So far I haven't really found any other evidence the RHLI had them but then I really haven't been looking for anything other then what pops up while searching for something else.

[Ed Storey]

Guys, no wonder the average collector and restorer is so confused, you all keep focusing on the half-percent anomalies! The fact is and remains that the Sten was used by the Canadian Army in North-west Europe and the Thompson was used in Italy. Sure there is a picture of a patrol in the winter and the lead person has a Thompson and okay some old Canadian Vet said he had one, that is well and good but the answer is that the Sten was the Machine Carbine used by the Army in NW Europe. Stop muddying the waters by dredging up exceptions.

There is also the infamous photograph of a member of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion carrying a M1 Garand. Interesting photograph, again an anomaly but it was fuel for the fire for every 1 Can Para Re-enactor in the US to use it as an excuse to arm himself with an M1 instead of a No. 4. Nice photograph, but wrong conclusion.

Once again I hearken to tables of organization and equipment in which the Sten is THE machine Carbine for the Army in NW Europe and this has to do with supply which simply means, ammunition and parts. A member of Canadian in the Army in NW Europe in WWII would not be entitled to nor issued with a Thompson. If one were procured, then ammunition would be a problem as .45 cal ACP ammunition would not be forthcoming up through the Canadian supply chain.

If you are restoring a vehicle or putting together a uniform impression for NW Europe, then the Sten is the only correct option and answer.

So ends the lesson!