Soldiers of the Middlesex Regiment open fire with a Vickers Machine Gun, 1944

Photograph, World War Two, Italy (1943-1945), 1944.

The water-cooled .303 inch Vickers was famed for its reliability and could fire over 600 rounds per minute and had a range of 4,500 yards. With proper handling, it could sustain a rate of fire for hours, providing a necessary supply of belted ammunition, spare barrels and cooling water was available. First introduced in 1912, the Vickers remained in service with the British Army until 1968.

One of 47 photographs relating to 7th Bn Middlesex Regiment, 1941-1945.