Telescopic Rifle Sight : Lance Sergeant P Thurlow, 22nd Battalion, AIF

Telescopic rifle sight for a Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle with a bracket made and fitted by Holland and Holland, London. The rear optic tube is marked ALDIS BROTHERS BIRMINGHAM No 65734 and the left side under the range drum is engraved HOLLAND AND HOLLAND. The forward leg is stamped 4848 which would have been the serial number of the rifle. The sight has brown leather lens caps joined with a strap and is contained in a brown leather chamoise lined case. The case is numbered 4848 and has a shoulder strap attached through four side loops. The case lid is held onto the main body with a leather tab and brass stud.

This sight was used by Lance Sergeant Percy Thurlow of 22nd Battalion AIF as a sniper during the First World War. The donor was of the opinion that the rifle and sight was issued to Sgt Thurlow during the latter part of the Gallipoli campaign and he took it with him to France in 1916. An official supplier to the British Army, Aldis Brothers also produced sighting sytems that were installed on British aircraft.