Photographical journey through the Allied snipers of World War II. Most photographs depict British and, or Canadian Snipers using the British Lee Enfield.
Allied Snipers of World War II
A sniper demonstrating his camouflage (note: German Waffen-SS Camo Pattern: named unofficially “Early Plane Tree”) at a sniper school in a French village, 27 July 1944. The lesson here was probably “Know Your Enemy” to demonstrate how German Snipers were clothed
Marine Sniper with a Springfield 1903A1 and Unertl 8-power scope.
M1 Garand with a scoped bolt action 1903.
A sniper applying camouflage face cream at a sniper school in a Normandy village, 27 July 1944.
A British sniper takes aim through the telescopic sights of his rifle on the range at a sniper training school in France, 27 July 1944.
Snipers training at the same sniper school as the photographs above, somewhere in a French village, 27 July 1944.
A 6th Airborne Division sniper on patrol in the Ardennes, wearing a snow camouflage suit, 14 January 1945.
A British sniper, Private Sutcliffe, seated at a window of a house in Caen watching for enemy snipers through telescopic sights.
A camouflage suit for a sniper of the British Army
A sniper from C Company, 5th Battalion, The Black Watch , 51st (Highland) Division, in position in the loft space of a ruined building in Gennep, Holland, 14 February 1945.
A sniper from the Seaforth Highlanders takes aim from behind a carrier as 15th (Scottish) Division troops deal with German resistance in Uelzen, 16 April 1945.
Lance Corporal A P Proctor, a sniper with 56th Division, cleaning his rifle, 24 November 1943.
Canadian Sniper, Pte. L. V. Hughe in World War II.
Sergeant sergeant H.A. Marshall of the Calgary Highlanders Sniping Platoon. Kapellen, Belgium.
Image Credits: Imperial War Museum and Canadian War Archives under C.C. License
Our next reportage feature the Axis Snipers of World War II.
Thanks for all those who had been trained and other lessons during World War 2 and later wars. In Vietnam those guys had it hard just like in the pacific war. The American M1903 and sometimes the M1 or the14. Thanks to all who served.
At Fort Huachuca, Arizona on the High Zpower a Rifle Team. We used the Springfield- US Rifle which had been upgraded to semi match and used match 762mm 51 grade ammo. We even beat the U.S. Marines sometimes. It was fun, but we shot at paper targets. NRA qualifications.
Thanks for the history on the British and Canadian Snipers. From a non sniper. But a Vietnam War Veteran in the Central Highlands in 1969-1970.
Thanks for your comment and service, Robert! Thank you.
This was before we learned the lessons of not sticking a muzzle out of a window and back lighting. These men taught us a lot.
Lee Enfield is/was one very accurate rifle, especially for it’s time. I have one which I purchased for my father some 56
years ago. On his last hunting trip at age 70 and battling cancer, he could still hold a less than 2″ bullseye pattern, with
commercial ammo and open sights, 100 yds and 5 shots.