Send A Gun To Defend A British Home ... Pistols - Rifles - Revolvers - Shotguns - Binoculars

American Rifleman -- Official Journal of the National Rifle Association of America | April 2002 | Mark A. Keefe, IV -- Editor

[thinktwice]

In the dark days following the British Expeditionary Force's evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940 ...

[thinktwice]

In the dark days following the British Expeditionary Force's evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940, Great Britain was a nation virtually disarmed. And not just by the need to abandon equipment on France's beaches to save British "Tommies" to fight another day, but by the policies of its own government. The days of devotion to civilian markmanship, "volunteer rifle clubs" and the idea that there should be "a rifle in every cottage," as proposed by the Prime Minister Marquis of Salisbury in 1900, had given way to restrictive gun control laws that required subjects to demonstrate "good reason" to merely obtain a handgun or rifle. So with Hitler's legions poised to cross the English Channel, the British people were defended by an ill-equipped and defeated army and a "Home Guard" armed with little more than sporting shotguns and pikes.

Help for the beleaguered nation came from both the American government and from the American people, the latter through the "American Committee for Defense of British Homes." In late 1940, the committee sent an urgent appeal -- which, of course, appeared in American Rifleman -- for Americans to send "Pistols - Rifles - Revolvers - Shotguns - Binoculars" because "British civilians, faced with the threat of invasion, desperately need arms for the defense of their homes." Thousands of arms were collected and sent to England, one of which was a .30-'06 Model 1903 target rifle owned by Major John W. Hession. Hession was one of the pre-eminent highpower rifle target shooters of his day, and he used that rifle to win Olympic gold at Bisley Camp in England in 1908. The rifle, unlike the majority sent, was returned and can now be viewed int he national Firearms Museum.

The U.S. Government responded to Britain's peril as well with passage of the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941. Almost immediately, quantities of "U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1" were on their way across the Atlantic, and those guns are the subject of an article by noted M1 Garand historian Scott Duff starting on p. 42. The "British Garands" have an interesting history but the importance of arming the British at that time is made clear by the fact that the rapidly growing U.S. Army itself did not have sufficient numbers of the then-new M1 Garands. Winston Churchill wrote in Their Finest Hour: "When the ships from America approached our shores with their priceless arms, special trains were waiting in all ports to receive their cargoes. The Home Guard in every county, in every village, sat up through the night to receive them. ... By the end of July we were an armed nation ... ."

Now, sadly, Britain is again a disarmed nation, where even Olympic athletes wanting to represent their country cannot own a handgun and where an act of self-defense can land a subject in jail. As with virtually all rifles and handguns, those likely few remaining guns sent to England in its time of desperate need have been confiscated and destroyed. Despite the very near enslavement of England being so close a mere six decades ago, the lesson of the false promises of gun control and personal disarmament were not learned.

Sincerely, ... Mark A Keefe, IV -- Editor

[Intimidator]

Excellent article

[Intimidator]

bump

[Republicus2001]

should we set up another Lend-Lease - from our citizens to theirs?

[thinktwice]

Ping

[Ohioan]

This is indeed a sad tale. It might be captioned, "How Socialism destroyed a thousand year heritage."

We must never let America fall to so sad a state of affairs.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[aomagrat]

They made their unarmed bed. They can sleep in it.

[stevio]

This won't happen again. Meaning, I won't be sending anything to them.

[norton]

For socialism to succede it MUST destroy the heritage of what came before.

[babyface00]

Oh, its not Socialism's fault. Its just that it's never been implemented correctly. The right people just need to be in charge. Then everything will be just fine.

And if you believe that, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I'm trying to sell...

[Chapita]

I made the statement here, four years ago, that Britian had begged for guns from the US right at the start of their fear of German invasion, because they had already outlawed the ownership of guns, and just didn't have anything with which to arm their shore patrol!

Proof was demanded, and I couldn't resurrect an uncle who told ne that.

[AnnaZ]

An excellent article. BANG!

[TexasRepublic]

Hey, gun-grabbing socialist Brits! No more freebies for you. You had a chance to redeem yourselves, but you blew it! Go pound sand!

[cmak9]

This won't happen again. Meaning, I won't be sending anything to them.

Amen to that! People who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We can at least learn not to waste our time on a bunch of socialists, who will never learn.

[The KG9 Kid]

If they ever ask for arms again, send them your NRA stickers from your membership packets.

I've got dozens piling up.

[Ender@Game.now]

Can you prove you made that statement 4 years ago? ):

Only kiddin' Chapita. You're right and accurate. Besides some of my best friends are named Chapita.

[donozark]

From The American Rifleman Jan.1996 p.43.

1940 Defend A British Home

After the defeat of the British at Dunkirk and with the threat of an invasion by Nazi Germany imminent, a group called The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes appealed to Americans to "send a gun to defend a British home." An ad appeared in the American Rifleman and a direct mailing to the membership featured a plea from a British officer:"Send us anything that shoots." NRA collected more than 7,000 arms for the defense of Britain, which had virtually disarmed itself with a series of gun control laws enacted between the wars.

[donozark]

See also:post #17

[Chapita]

First I've seen that corroborates the statement by an uncle made to me around 1978!

[Beelzebubba]

Bang

[Madame Dufarge]

Bump.

[Shooter 2.5]

Dear Britain,
We sent you nancy boys our guns during WWII. We would now like them back and all the other handguns, rifles and shotguns that you are confiscating from your citizenry. Since you're too stupid or corrupt to be able to give them a decent home, I insist that I take them off your hands. My address is:
NRA Member
Any Street, Hometowm U.S.A.

[Shooter 2.5]

Dear Britain,
We sent you nancy boys our guns during WWII. We would now like them back and all the other handguns, rifles and shotguns that you are confiscating from your citizenry. Since you're too stupid or corrupt to be able to give them a decent home, I insist that I take them off your hands. My address is:
NRA Member
Any Street, Hometowm U.S.A.

[donozark]

Unfortunately the Brits tossed them in the ocean, all except a few "culls." And they went only to the "powers to be." I understand many Krags, 1903 Springfields, Enfields, etc. Also, many hunting rifles and pistols. What a waste...

[Constitution Day]

I recently went to the UK and was sure to bring along several of my Ruger and 2nd Amendment-themed shirts.

Needless to say, there were some dirty looks. I just smiled...

[Concentrate]

If they ever ask for arms again, send them your NRA stickers from your membership packets.

I've got dozens piling up.

But then again, we musn't abandon those n Britain who have fought against gun control. Let's FedEx them handguns.

[Constitution Day]

Unfortunately the Brits tossed them in the ocean, all except a few "culls."

These too? What a shame.

[Deguello]

For me, this was High School History Class stuff...mid seventies.

[Concentrate]

Hey! Where can I get one o' those Constitution shirts?

[Incorrigible]

FYI

[in the Arena]

When in its Darkest hour Britain found itself short of arms for home defense, Americans, with many NRA members leading the way, donated their guns to fight for freedom. Maj. John W. Hession of Orange, Conn. (r.) presents his championship rifle to C. Suydam Cutting, chairman of the American Committee for Defense of British Homes. After WWII, a British government that no longer trusted those it served destroyed many of those firearms. Maj. Hession's rifle survived, however, and today rests is a place of honor in the National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters.

[Concentrate]

Deguello member since January 10th, 2002

[aomagrat]

When my ship made a port visit to Vancouver BC, I wore my Ruger shirt on liberty. I got a lot of looks, and I heard someone say, "Leave it to an American sailor to wear a Ruger shirt where handguns are banned."

[Deguello]

I have been following this site for two years. I am not quite the writer that most of you are.

I do enjoy the quality and the informative nature of these posts. I read the post daily when work (boss) allows and reply when my two peos will fit in.

I did not realize that I may need a bio.

[droberts]

Same nancy boys the U.S. seems to always call upon when someone is needed for a bit of CQB, namely the SAS.

[Concentrate]

Fair enough. Welcome.

[Don Joe]

Unfortunately the Brits tossed them in the ocean, all except a few "culls." And they went only to the "powers to be." I understand many Krags, 1903 Springfields, Enfields, etc. Also, many hunting rifles and pistols. What a waste...

Thieving cowardly bastards.

Next time they ask, send "This is a gun-free home -- Please do not hurt me" posters.

[Concentrate]

Next time they ask, send "This is a gun-free home -- Please do not hurt me" posters.

Whare can you get those? I need a few.

[Shooter 2.5]

The nancy boys comment is aimed at the anti-gun politicians. If you think it refers to you or to the SAS, I have no control over that.

[in the Arena]

You can get one here...not sure if it's really for sale, but the satire is excellent...

C I T I Z E N S - A G A I N S T - S A T A N ' S - H A N D G U N S

[norton]

I don't have proof either but it seems fairly obvious that...if they'd had 'em they would not have asked for 'em.

When you lose 'em, how are you going to get 'em back?

If you (they) get (got) them back, how long before a comfortable governing elite (will) would take them away again?

[droberts]

Odd your letter starts 'Dear Britain' not dear anti-gun politicians of Britain. Perhaps you're right and I have a big complex about being a nancy boy. How about a kiss then.

[Chapita]

My neighbor/property owner up in the wilderness was a Brit engineer and former SAS from the Malaya insurrection. He was a gun expert and very enthusiastic about weapons of all kinds.

He was, also, queer as a three dollar bill. He and his boyfriend died of AIDS three years apart.

I think he was, also, into necrophilia!

[xm177e2]

He was, also, queer as a three dollar bill. He and his boyfriend died of AIDS three years apart.

I think he was, also, into necrophilia!

But I'll bet you never gave him a hard time about it... (him being former SAS and a firearms expert with a terminal illness)...

[Constitution Day]

"Leave it to an American sailor to wear a Ruger shirt where handguns are banned."

LOL. They were probably jealous!
I did get some positive comments while up in Yorkshire. They thought the gun ban was "bollocks".

[2Trievers]

Thanks for posting this TT ...sadly it seems we are not far behind our friends from across the pond. We must continue our fight to keep and bear arms!

[droberts]

OK, you found the exception. Well done.