Korean PPSh 41 Sub-machine gun : Lance Corporal G C Ralston, 1 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

PPSh 41 Sub-machine gun complete with drum magazine. There is no sling or cleaning accessories. '1943' is marked at the base of the barrel jacket just in front of the ejection port and '69 42' on the exterior of the trigger guard. There is a very faint five-pointed star with an interior circle marked on the upper barrel jacket . The butt shows signs of major repair just behind the grip and the receiver has been cut through and rewelded at the ejector port. The barrel/receiver hinge pin is separate.

This weapon was captured by Lance Corporal David McCarthy and Corporal Ronald McCrindle, of 1 Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) on the night of 13-14 September 1952. On this night, a 1RAR patrol was operating in the Songgok area, east of the Samichon River in North Korea when it encountered and attacked a party of 20 Chinese near the bank of a creek. While the patrol was on its way back to the Australian lines after this engagement, Lance Corporal McCarthy and Corporal McCrindle captured a Chinese soldier and his weapon. This was the first prisoner to be taken by 1RAR in Korea. Lance Corporal McCarthy was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for his actions. Corporal McCrindle was also awarded the MM for his courage on 1RAR patrols. The incident in which the PPSh was captured is described on pages 251-252 of the 'Official History of Australia in the Korean War 1950-53 Volume II: Combat Operations'. Lance Corporal Ralston acquired the weapon from Corporal McCrindle some time later and it returned to Australia with 1RAR at the end of its tour.