The first shows the MG being unhitched by Grenadiers. Can't positively I.D. the mounted man - maybe Artillery, Transport, or even Cavalry.
Second one is probably Infantry with the same carriage, and the third, Chasseurs ŕ Pied with the gun.
(Ivor, I recall you were mildly interested in this at the time) Is it a Berthier or a Hotchkiss? The Hotchkiss used by the Chasseurs ŕ Cheval had a different stock, like the Tank version.
Question is: was this still around by the Outbreak? There are so many photos of different types of carts with mgs in Belgian use
-- Edited by James H on Thursday 4th of November 2010 12:21:17 AM
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Hi James despite what I speculated in the previous thread I now think this is an early version of the "Hotchkiss" HMG without cooling fins, a version like this is patented to 1896 all the other patents Ive collected appear to have fins, the long stock appears on a patent from 1897(with fins) and there is also a patents for the wheeled mount and tripod some confusion may be caused by the names Benet & Mercie it also appears the Hotchkiss company was based in London England at this time....
Perhaps this is a photo of an early trial first pic with guards that is....
you may like to know there are 22 pages of patents for "Hotchkiss" on Google most of which have nothing to do with the "Hotchkiss" were interested in... that is from 1880-1916 only...
Cheers
-- Edited by Ironsides on Friday 5th of November 2010 10:17:03 AM
Hi James, Have added a link for the field mount patent, I'm pretty certain this is a Hotchkiss circa 1896 with the circa 1903 Field wheeled/tripod mount....