Talk:Evelyn Owen

Latest comment: 10 years ago by 203.219.70.29 in topic Owen's Demise

Incorrect Information edit

"Australia had no experience in the manufacture of firearms and relied entirely on the United Kingdom for its small arms. "

Rubbish! The Government Small Arms Factory at Lithgow had been producing the .303 SMLE continuously since 1913, and was also producing Vickers MMGs and Bren Guns by 1940. In that year, Lithgow was producing more than 2,000 weapons each month, ad would eventually scale up to 6,000. In fact, we exported SMLEs to the UK after Dunkirk!!! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.222.229.110 (talk) 14:18, 20 November 2012 (UTC)Reply

Have slightly revised text around this to make clear this section is referring to development/design of weapons rather than manufacture of same. However, the comments above are inaccurate. Bren guns were not manufactured in 1940, nor were Lithgow producing "more then 2,000 weapons each month in 1940" - about 4,100 small arms/machine guns were produced in Australia during all of 1940. Refer to the table on page 324, of Mellor (1958) (link to relevant chapter http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awmohww2/civil/vol5/awmohww2-civil-vol5-ch15.pdf). Zawed (talk) 09:57, 1 January 2013 (UTC)Reply

Owen's Demise edit

The following are unconfirmed anecdotes regarding Evelyn Owen.

1. After the war, Lysaght presented Owen with a gun made from stainless steel. Police raided Owen's home that night and charged him with illegal possession. The gun went missing afterwards.

2. With his prize money Owen became a chronic alcoholic. which caused his premature death.203.219.70.29 (talk) 05:31, 22 May 2013 (UTC)Reply