Marine Sniper with a Springfield 1903A1 and Unertl 8-power scope. Note the length and size of the objective lens.

Allied Snipers in 15 Extraordinary Photographs during WWII

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

A sniper demonstrates his camouflage (note: German Waffen-SS "Dot" Pattern) at a sniper school in a French village, 27 July 1944.

Marine Sniper with a Springfield 1903A1 and Unertl 8-power scope.

Marine Sniper with a Springfield 1903A1 and Unertl 8-power scope. Note the length and size of the objective lens.

M1 Garand with a scoped bolt action 1903.

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 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.

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.

Snipers training at a sniper school 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 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 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 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 C Company, 5th Battalion, The Black Watch , 51st (Highland) Division, in position in a ruined building in Gennep, Holland, 14 February 1945.

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.

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.

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.

Canadian Sniper in WWII

Sergeant sergeant H.A. Marshall of the Calgary Highlanders Sniping Platoon. Kapellen, Belgium.

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. 

5 thoughts on “Allied Snipers in 15 Extraordinary Photographs during WWII”

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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