A Much Travelled MP40

John -Melb · 08-14-2005, 03:15 AM

I was doing some searching on the Net recently and came up with some very interesting info. According to the history of the 2/1 Bn AIF, one of the benefits of the initial issues of Owen guns to Australian troops in New Guinea was that Captain Sanderson could obtain 9mm ammunition for the Schmeisser Machine Pistol he had brought back from Crete!

This gun, if it exists today would have to be one of the most widely used MP40's (or possibly MP38's) around. Used by the Germans, possibly in Europe, definately on Crete. Probably used in North Africa by an Aussie officer, and used by that same officer in New Guinea.

Captain Alexander Sanderson 2/1 Inf Bn. AIF enlisted at Paddington, Sydney in October 1939 and was Killed in Action, aged 31 on the 23/10/42.

I wonder where his machine pistol ended up?

John Sabato · 08-14-2005, 10:13 AM

A needle in a haystack search, but a really interesting story John... was the serial number of the gun listed in the history you read? Maybe one of the fortunate legal machine gun owners in NZ or the US has this gun.

08-14-2005, 03:15 AM	#1
John -Melb User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Peoples Republic of Australia! Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A Much Travelled MP40 I was doing some searching on the Net recently and came up with some very interesting info. According to the history of the 2/1 Bn AIF, one of the benefits of the initial issues of Owen guns to Australian troops in New Guinea was that Captain Sanderson could obtain 9mm ammunition for the Schmeisser Machine Pistol he had brought back from Crete! This gun, if it exists today would have to be one of the most widely used MP40's (or possibly MP38's) around. Used by the Germans, possibly in Europe, definately on Crete. Probably used in North Africa by an Aussie officer, and used by that same officer in New Guinea. Captain Alexander Sanderson 2/1 Inf Bn. AIF enlisted at Paddington, Sydney in October 1939 and was Killed in Action, aged 31 on the 23/10/42. I wonder where his machine pistol ended up?

08-14-2005, 10:13 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	A needle in a haystack search, but a really interesting story John... was the serial number of the gun listed in the history you read? Maybe one of the fortunate legal machine gun owners in NZ or the US has this gun. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*