Official wartime caption: “Lining up for their first target practice. Revolver practice. 1940, naval ratings receiving revolver instruction. They are under the guidance of commissioned gunner, F.E. Bisson, RN, who has been a gunner for over 30 years.”
All photos by the prolific shutterbug, LT Sidney James Beadell, Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve (Sp), one of the official naval photographers.
“This Leading Seaman was a builder before the war and is receiving his first lesson in the handling of a revolver.” Observe the notebook and pencil in Gunner Bisson’s jacket pocket. IWM (A 1196)
IWM (A 1197)
The positions are textbook– right out of the Royal Navy Field Training Handbook, H.M.S.O., 1926:
Plate 43, for reference. Note the Tar in the manual has a larger MK VI Webley and canvas holster.
IWM (A 1198)
The wheelguns are early (likely Mk Vs) bird’s head gripped 3-inch Webley .455s, weapons Gunner Bisson was no doubt well acquainted with as they were first adopted in 1913 and used in the Great War. The leather holsters, for the most part, seem to be for the bigger MK VI.
As most revolver training seems to have been done aboard a ship, the fact that Gunner Bisson is conducting the evolution at a shore establishment may point to the trainees being selected for dockside or armory security duty.