Update 6th December 2013— 

• MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS!

• Research library for sale, from Temple and Skennerton. See Sale page for an updated list. Don't wait long, no duplicates. Barry died 13th July at the Kilcoy hospital, a few hours after I visited. We are all richer for his research & study. 

• More on Sparrow Force now with a new website promoting a British aspect, 79th Light Anti-aircraft Bofors batteries that arrived on West Timor only a few days before the Japanese invaded, bombed as they unloaded the guns. Grant McLachlan in NZ posted details of his grandfather, has written a book available through his new website www.sparrowbook.com 

• New www.sparrowforce.com website is updated as more photographs come to hand. Our DVD & computer CD sets 'Footsteps of Sparrow Force' and 'Guns & Gear of Sparrow Force' are available now, see top left of our home page. Our dear friend Dr. Harry Medlin, ex. Lieut., 2-i-c 2/1st Fortress Engineers in Sparrow Force, passed away 6th March. R.i.p. Harry.

• 
  Tom Trumble has a new book about his maternal grand-father, Flying Officer Bryan Rofe: 'Rescue at 2100 Hours' (332pp soft cover). When Penfui was evacuated, RAAF personnel flew out in the last Hudsons. A small party led by Rofe stayed behind and made their way to the north-west coast, evading the Japs for two months, eventually rescued by the USS 'Searaven'. A tale of hardship and endurance under extreme circumstances. $29.95 at bookshops; $22 at Big W.

• 
  'Never Meant to be Heroes' by Maj. Neville Noakes, A.A. Intel. Rtd.
  Privately published 2013. The personal story of Sgt. Brown of the 2/1st Heavy Battery on Timor, Sparrow Force, researched and penned by his son who was adopted out during the war. Neville never knew of his father until more recent times. A touching story... 113pp with colour pages. $29.50 incl. post.

• Our 'Enfield Pattern Room' DVD is available now. With its specialised content, the copy run is limited. $19.50 plus $5 p&p in Australia, $8 p&p to N.Z. and $10 p&p to America & Europe.

• The Singleton Infantry Centre Museum has re-opened after a multi-million dollar, double-storey rebuild. Situated at the Singleton army base, it is open to the public on Thursday thru' Sunday from 9am to 4pm, except for public holidays. There is an Infantry Corps shop and Lone Pine Kiosk and entry is $8 for adults, $5 for pensioners and children under 16 are $3. Ankle-biters (nippers under 5) are free. A discount family rate is $20 and groups of 20+ are discounted to $4 each however groups need to make a booking. Their website is found at www.infantrymuseum.com.au and e-mail is info@infantrymuseum.com.au Their telephone number is (02) 6575 0257, fax (02) 6575 0239. Revamped displays and worth a visit.  

• See the Lithgow SAF Museum new pages at www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au Quoted as the premier on-display military small arms museum in Oz today.

• More websites for gun shops and dealers in Oz. The latest is Barry's Firearms in Perth, West Australia; check it out at www.barrysfirearms.com.au

• New book: Barrack Hill, A History of Anglesea Barracks 1811-2011 by John Lennox & John Wadsley celebrating the 200th anniversary of this Hobart institution. 258-page hard cover, 180+ images. Funds to Legacy and Australian Army Museum Tasmania. $50 ea. plus p&p, e-mail John at jolona@netspace.net.au for orders. Pack & post is $11.20 within Australia.

• Another website dear to our heart... www.birminghamgunmuseum.com 

• New 7.62 NATO Sharpshooter rifle for the British Army? The L129A1 made by Lewis Machine & Tool Co., Milan, IL has been purchased to meet current requirements. As knowledgeable gun nuts (soldiers too!) have said all along, 5.56mm is a 'poodle shooter'. The first batch of 500 Stoner type rifles was delivered and more are likely to follow, if not already acquired. One piece upper with full-length Picatinny rails, quick change stainless steel barrel in 305, 406 & 508mm lengths on a one-piece upper. It looks like an AR10 with M16 shorty butt. So the wheel has turned back fifty years. We told you so... 

• Milsurps ... go to http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=25606 to check out updates on our Sparrow Force project. The Milsurps site from Canada has forums, information and posted pages of interest to all collectors and historical shooters with keen members and posts from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

• New sniper record. British army member of the Household Cavalry in Helmund province, took out two Taliban machine-gunners at 8,120 feet (2.47 km) with consecutive shots from an Accuracy International L115A3 in .338 Lapua. Craig Harrison had returned from hospital in the UK after being hit by a roadside IED, breaking both arms. Likely with a score to settle? This beats the Canadian record in March 2002; an Al-Queda gunman at 7,972 ft.

• The Lee-Enfield's superiority as a battle rifle: British Sgt. Snoxall recorded 38 hits on a 12-in. bull at 300 yards in only sixty seconds. Proficiency... the rifle was rapidly loaded in order to fire as many rounds as possible in one minute, dubbed by participants, 'the mad minute'. No other hand-operated bolt action service rifle can claim such a record. Enfields rule!

• 40 Handbooks now: US Krag, Carcano, MAS 36, Beretta Pistols, Hi-Standard Pistols, Glock Pistols, .303 SMLE, British No.4, M17/P14, Mauser Rifles, Winchester Mod. 97, Winchester Mod. 12, M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, FN FAL, M14, AR15/M16, Browning Hi-Power, C'96 Mauser pistol, .45 M1911, Luger, P-38, Makarov, AK47, SKS, Mosin-Nagant, Mod. 70 Winchester, Mod. 94 Winchester, .22 Mod 61 Winchester, Jap Service Pistols, 6.5mm T'38 Arisaka, 7.7mm T'99 Arisaka, S&W Revolvers, Walther PP & PPK, .22 Ruger Mk I & II, Schmidt Rubin, Ruger Mini-14. New: Ruger 10/22 and the Model 1892 Winchester as these new titles have been requested by customers and dealers.

• Check our www.enfieldcollector.com site; there will eventually be pages on .577 Enfield, Snider-Enfield, Martini, MLM & MLE, SMLE, Rifle No.4, &c.

• Proofed Action Assembly numbers confirm the original fitting of a breech bolt & body on many SMLE actions, especially Lithgows. This number was stamped prior to the serial number, upon the body, barrel and bolt groups being proof fired. The PAA (Proofed Action Assembly) number was stamped in small engineers stamps underneath the bolt handle and on the corresponding area at the rear, right of the action body. However, not all SMLEs are PAA marked; this is yet another indicator for an overall picture in the markings scene.

DVD & CD $35

DVD & CD $35

DVD only $19.50

Sten Mk V, VI & II(S)

WinM1892

Ruger10/22

SchmidtRubin

Mini-14

US Krag

NOW ~~~  Small Arms Identification Series   last releases ... US$10.00 ea.
SAIS #22 British Empire Sniper Rifles with parts, line drawings, mounts & scopes.
New information on the Canadian, Australian & Indian conversions.
SAIS #23 Lee-Enfield Parts Catalogue shows MLM, MLE, SMLE, No.4, No.5 & .22 rifle parts by items. Side by side comparisons: bodies, bolts, sights, nosecaps, furniture, &c.
SAIS #24 9mm Sten Mk V, VI & II(S) to complement SAIS #11 on the Mk I, II & III Sten models. This is the final booklet in our Small Arms Identification Series manuals.