RARE**WW1 Battle Of The Somme Battlefield Recovered British Trench Warfare Barbed Wire Breaker / Cutter For Attachment To S.M.L.E Rifles. MISC 821 Antique & Militaria

**RARE**WW1 Battle Of The Somme Battlefield Recovered British Trench Warfare Barbed Wire Breaker / Cutter For Attachment To S.M.L.E Rifles. MISC 821 - MISC 821

The Battle of the Somme also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the upper reaches of the river Somme in France. The battle was intended to hasten a victory for the Allies. More than three million men fought in the battle, of whom more than one million were either wounded or killed, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history. Barbed wire posed a significant obstacle to attacking troops: it slowed or prevented progress across the battle field and made soldiers easy targets while they were tangled or being cut free. British rifle fitted wire breakers / cutters were 1st approved for service in 1912 and developed throughout WW1. This is a rare, original, WW1 British wire breaker / cutter for attachment to S.M.L.E rifles (see page 366 of ‘The Lee Enfield Story’ by Skennerton). This piece of WW1 trench warfare equipment was recovered post war from the Somme battlefield. A copy of an original WW1 photograph of a British Soldier carrying an S.M.L.E with a wire breaker / cutter attached is illustrated in image 1. The all steel construction wire breaker / cutter is in fair condition for a battlefield recovered relic. It has the correct steel horns jaw and hinged clamp with wing nut & bolt for rifle attachment. The metal work has even patina. There are no maker or date marks visible on this wire cutter. The price for this rare WW1 piece includes UK delivery. MISC 821 (storeroom shelves entrenching tools / wire cutters box)

£295.00