The chat about weapons reminded me of my dad's diaries -- he was ground crew, his experiences are on this thread way back in the page 60s.
He had a Sten which he used to take into the jungle to shoot off a few rounds. I don't think it was necessarily for fighting Japs -- although there were times he was close to the fighting -- but rather it was to see off Dacoits who were always trying to pinch stuff.