HANDBOOK OF THE
LEWIS AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN
Model 1915
BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS Co. Ltd, 1916
A rare original B.S.A. Lewis Machine Gun handbook, published in 1916, with a very interesting provenance. The book is signed on the front cover by ’T. P. Bovingdon, D. Company, Artists Rifles O.T.C., 1917’.
Thomas Pincombe Bovingdon MM (1899-1982) served with the Artists Rifles, 1/28th London Regiment from 1917-1918 and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. He was a student when he enlisted on 2 August 1917 (service no. 766504), and trained with the Artists Rifles O.T.C., but was not commissioned and went out to France as a private on 8 March 1918, just before the start of the German Spring Offensive. On 4 July 1918 Bovingdon joined 1/28th London Regiment and served with them until 7 September, when he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his right hand. Looking at the War Diary of the 1/28th, the action Pte Bovingdon was involved in was probably a bombing raid on German positions near Pronville on the Canal Du Nord on 7 September. The War Diary entries show that the 1/28th were in the thick of the fighting between 5-7 September:
”5 Sept - Attack arranged on w/c Germ posts located at E8c 66. D Coy attacked the post with success at Bombing Post, but unable to occupy owing to heavy M/G fire from flanks
7 Sept - Brigade ordered Patrol to canal at E14 b and to bomb enemy post at E8c 95 20. 2/Lt Priest successfully reconnoitred canal and [forward?] same day. Bombing party under Sgt [?] successful in bombing post but were heavily engaged by M.G.’s and bombs. Relieved by KLR’O (57 Div)"
Bovingdon spent the next month recovering in hospital at Rouen, before rejoining the 1/28th on 19 October 1918. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 26 October, before being wounded in action again on 9 November 1918, at Blaugies, SW of Mons, just two days before the armistice.
“8 November - On entering the outskirts of Blaugies heavy machine gun fire was met with 16.00 hours. At 16.30 hours all companies reached objectives and counter Machine and Lewis Guns were posted . . . During night a hostile machine gun on right was put out of action and captured by B Coy.
9 November - At dawn Battalion advanced and discovered enemy retreating. Advance was continued through the Bois de Sars and main line was taken up just W of Mons-Mauberge road, with outpost line in high ground beyond it."
The injury this time was a gunshot wound to the left thigh, and Bovingdon was admitted to the base Hospital at Etaples, before being evacuated to England on 25 November. The records state that he relinquished his appointment as Corporal on 9 November. Back in England he was transferred to a hospital in Manchester, and by early 1919 he seems to have made a fairly good recovery. A medical report dated 11 January 1919 stated that he had 'two small wounds to the thigh, no wasting, the muscles good, movement fairly good’. He was transferred to the army reserve on 11 February 1919. On the same date, 11 February 1919, Thomas Bovingdon’s award of the Military Medal was gazetted. He was one of only 15 Artists Rifles other ranks to be awarded the M.M. during the war.
(Copies of T. P. Bovingdon’s service records and War Diary entries, etc will be included with the book)
This edition of the Handbook of the Lewis Automatic Machine Gun was produced in June 1916, just before the Battle of the Somme. The Lewis Gun was manufactured during the First World War by both B.S.A. of Birmingham and the Savage Arms Co of New York. The book is a practical guide to the handling and maintenance of both the aircraft and infantry variants of the Lewis Gun as used by the R.F.C., R.N.A.S., R.A.F. and the British Army during WW1. Well illustrated with photographs and a large fold-out diagram of the gun, it includes detailed lists of parts and optional accessories, such as aircraft mountings, shell case deflectors, tripods and bipods.
Condition:
In very good condition. The cover is in very good condition, with minor signs of wear and use and some marks. The binding is good and secure. The text is in very good condition. The photographic plates and the large fold-out diagram of the Lewis Gun at the rear of the book are in very good condition. There are Imperial War Museum ink stamps on the title page and a couple of other pages. The book is signed on the front cover by ’T. P. Bovingdon, D. Company, Artists Rifles O.T.C., 1917’.
Published: 1916
Khaki card covers, with black titling
Dimensions: 140mm x 215mm
Illustrated with 12 photographic plates
& 1 large fold-out diagram (500mm x 220mm)
Pages: 48
