NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. PRIVATE EVELYN ERNEST OWEN, 2/17TH INFANTRY BATTALION, OF WOLLONGONG, ...

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. PRIVATE EVELYN ERNEST OWEN, 2/17TH INFANTRY BATTALION, OF WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES, INVENTOR OF THE OWEN SUB MACHINE GUN, HOLDING THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL MODEL, DEVELOPED IN 1939-06. THIS WEAPON WAS OF .22 CALIBRE, AND EXCEPT FOR A FEW MACHINED PARTS, COULD BE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, USING THE PARTS OF AN OLD .22 CALIBRE RIFLE. THIS GUN, TOGETHER WITH THE ORIGINALS OF ALL SUBSEQUENT MODELS MANUFACTURED BY MESSRS. JOHN LYSAGHT OF PORT KEMBLA, IS ON DISPLAY IN THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.