Japanese Shin-Gunto Officer's Sword and Scabbard : Brigadier J Field, 7 (Militia) Brigade, Australian Army

Japanese Shin-gunto Army officer's sword and scabbard. The hilt has the standard army style gilded brass Shin-gunto fittings with cherry blossom menuki (hilt ornament) on each side of the handle under the binding and a scabbard button catch on the collar. Most of the fish skin covering of the hilt has deteriorated and disappeared, exposing the underlying timber. The pierced tsuba (guard) is rectangular in shape with cherry blossom motifs in the corners and has three spacer plates on each side. The kabuto-gane (pommel) is missing the sarute (loop) and cord strap. The single edged blade has a straight harmon temper line. A copper habaki (collar) is attached to the blade.

It has an olive green painted steel scabbard, with Shin-gunto mountings to match the hilt and a single strap hangar with a loose ring 70 mm from the throat. An engraved brass plaque soldered to the scabbard reads:

'PRESENTED TO BRIG. J. FIELD.
BY B COY. 25 INF. BN.
SLATERS KNOLL
BOUGAINVILLE
April 1945.'

This sword was presented to Brigadier John Field by B Company, 2/25 Infantry Battalion at Slaters Knoll, Bougainville in April 1945.

After the First World War the defence of the Australian mainland lay with the part-time soldiers of the Citizens Military Force (CMF), also known as the Militia. The Militia was organized to maintain the structure of the First AIF and kept the same numerical designations. The Militia units were distributed in the same areas the original AIF units were raised and known by the name of their shire. The 25th Infantry Battalion was called the 'Darling Downs Regiment', as it was headquartered in Toowoomba.

During 1940 the 25th was called-up and joined the rest of the 7th Brigade at Chermside, a northern suburb of Brisbane. The 7th Brigade spent 1941 conducting exercises and training at Chermside. When Japan entered the Second World War on 7 December 1941 the 7th Brigade prepared defensive positions at Caloundra. In May 1942 it moved to Rollingston, north of Townsville, to defend the area against a possible Japanese landing. Between July and August the brigade moved to Milne Bay, on the south-east tip of New Guinea.

On 27 August the Japanese made an amphibious landing at Milne Bay and reached the edge of the airstrip the next day, waiting to be reinforced. Early in the morning of 31 August the Japanese forces charged but suffered against the Australian defence and withdrew at dawn. The battle ended on 7 September. The 7th Brigade remained at Milne Bay until March 1943 when it was transferred to Donadabu, near Port Moresby, to continue training. The brigade progressively returned to Australia in November and was granted leave until February 1945, when it regrouped on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland.

In July the brigade returned to New Guinea, garrisoning the Madang area before being transferred to Torokina in Bougainville in November. In January the 25th joined the brigade's advance to the Puriata River until March. Leaving from Motupena Point the battalion followed the coast to Toko and headed inland to Slater's Knoll on the bank of the Puriata. One of its companies made a successful bayonet charge at Kero Creek on the way.

Three days later Corporal Reginald Rattey was awarded a VC for capturing a series of Japanese posts. However, the Japanese counter-attack fell against the 25th at Slater's Knoll. Surrounded and outnumbered, the battalion repealed numerous attacks from two Japanese regiments from 26 March to 5 April. If not for the timely arrival of tanks from the 2/4th Armoured Regiment the 25th might have been overrun. The 7th Brigade was relieved on 15 April by the 29th Brigade. The 25th took no further part in the campaign but members of the battalion were involved in the surrender ceremony in Torokina. The 25th was disbanded on 7 February 1946.