Tommy gun in the ETO

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Gerry McGinty

"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."

I am thinking of making a small diorama of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada on patrol near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 22 January 1945 one carrying a Thompson and the fourth in line carrying a Sten - do you think that this is realistic?

Regards
Gerry

Gerry, as a reenactor and collector I've been either in the thick of or on the outskirts of many discussions regarding authenticity such as whether Gebirgsjager reenactors should wear beards or should Marines carry the Boys ATR or the Johnson 1941. I once put a Nazi flag on my CMP and used it in a reenactment in a "under new Management" scenario. There are those that prefer the cookie cutter impression...I personally consider that a little tame. The fact that they weren't part of someone's scale of issue is a specious argument and ignores significant events in history. U.S Special Forces in Vietnam sometimes carried AK47's among other non-issue weapons. In the First World War Canadian troops by the droves chucked their Ross rifles away and used Lee-Enfields they gleaned from the battlefield. If you wish to portray what the "standard" soldier looked like, then by all means carry a Sten with your blancoed webbing and a clean shaven face. If you want to show what a soldier looked like after weeks in combat, then by all means do that also. I used to send a Warning Order out to my guys to stop shaving a week before an event in order to authentically present what a soldier in combat looked like. My humble opinion is that if you have historical evidence of an event, such as a picture, then "fill yer boots" my friend!

Derek.