Dinner knife : Lieutenant F E Massey, 13 Battalion AIF

Bread and butter knife with a fluted aluminium handle and stainless steel blade. There is a raised shield shape moulded into the aluminium near the end of the handle. The blade is impressed 'SHEFFIELD STEEL STAINLESS'.

Knife carried by Second Lieutenant F E Massey DCM, MM of 13 Infantry Battalion, AIF, on 18 September 1918. On this date, 13 Battalion was engaged in the successful attack on the Hindenburg Outpost Line at le Verguier. Lt Massey's entire uniform and equipment were collected for later display as a 'figure in full marching order' at the Australian War Memorial. Frank Edward Massey was born at Lewisham, London, in the UK in 1896. He was working as an assayer at Hornsby, NSW, before enlisting in the AIF in August 1915, and was taken on strength by 13 Battalion as Private 3850 in March 1916. Massey was awarded a Military Medal for his bravery as a member of the battalion bombing company at Mouquet Farm on 29 August 1916, and was wounded in the same action. The following year he was again wounded in the 4th Infantry Brigade's ill-fated attack at Bullecourt. In April 1918, with the rank of corporal, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant leadership, cheerfulness and devotion to duty in the fighting around Hebuterne, and shortly afterwards he was granted a commission. Frank Massey returned to Australia in May 1919 with the rank of lieutenant, and resumed his career as an assayer after discharge. He later lost a foot as the result of a train accident.