Bren .303 inch Mk II light machine gun, 1942

First issued in 1937, the Bren swiftly established itself as one of the finest light machine guns ever produced. Accurate and reliable, it was used in every theatre of war in which the British Army fought. This particular model was introduced in 1941 as a simplified type to facilitate mass production. The expensive drum-pattern rear sight of the Mark 1 was replaced by a folding leaf type, the bipod was changed from telescopic to fixed height and the wooden butt simplified. The Mark 2 was further modified with a shorter barrel to produce a handier weapon for jungle combat and this later became the Mark 3.

Donated by the Suffolk Constabulary.