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If you scare up a copy of the original field manual for the M1911, it says to keep it with the chamber unloaded and the hammer down when in "safe" areas, and to load the chamber and apply the thumb safety when action is "imminent." I the context of WW1, it would seem that "imminent" would be when the enemy was making a mass attack, or you were making a mass attack.
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That's pretty much military protocol regardless of the weapon. Not even naval guns are maintained with chambered rounds until the signal is given to hoist Baker.
"Line of departure. Lock and load."