Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 60
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[Page 60]
Do they know there is a war on in the homeland.
Crewe has a population of 45,000, dependant principally on the locomotive works. It has a very nice little park.
And now I am back at Fovant on Lewis guns and open formation, and soon we will be going to the pleasant land of France.
I might say a little of the Lewis gun. It was invented by Isaacs Lewis of USA and sold to Belgium. Its weight is 32 pounds and it is carried into action like a rifle. It loads from its own recoil {i,e, the gases from the cartridge working it after the manner of a gas engine somewhat}. It is very rapid for 45 rounds, when the magazine has to be changed which takes 7 seconds It is really an automatic rifle, and when it is firing the bullets and shells rush out of their respective openings in a stream. It is lighter than Vickers and is air cooled the Vickers being water cooled, nevertheless about 3 magazines run through rapidly will make the radiator sizzle if a drop of water be dropped on it. The stoppages of which there are 6 that have to be learnt are the principal trouble.
We are drawing our tin hats and waterproofs so it is France for us now, and all will be for the best.