Infantry Training: RIFLE AND BAYONET 1954: Produced for The West African Command

A highly illustrated War Office training manual for the raw native recruit, produced in 1954 for the West African Command (the WAC disbanded in 1956). Postwar plans to raise an infantry division in West Africa as part of a British strategic reserve were not realised due to lack of government funding. An interesting artefact from the last days of colonial Africa, reproduced from the original WO Library copy. Contents: The Rifle, stripping, assembling and sightsetting. The Rifle, care and cleaning, Loading and unloading. Lying position and hold. Aiming, Range targets. Trigger Control. Firing a shot. On guard and hip firing. The point. Alteration of sights. Two points. Working the bolt. Further cleaning. Snapshooting. Rapid firing. The training stick. Firing from other positions. Self-defence. Amendments No 1