| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL42438 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Edged weapon or club |
| Physical description | Gilded brass, Gold cord, Leather, Steel, Wood |
| Maker |
Hobson and Sons |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c 1932 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Pattern 1891 Naval Officers sword and scabbard : Lieutenant Commander A E R Fox, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Description
Pattern 1891 Naval Officers Dress Sword. The hilt is a small gilt/brass solid half basket type with the crowned anchor cartouche badge and the lion head backstrap pommel. The back edge of the guard folds down as a clip onto the scabbard locket and is stamped 'A.E.R. Fox 1932'. A blue and gold sword knot is attached to the guard. The grip is gilt wire bound over white rayskin. The slightly curved blade with a spear point has been sharpened and has an etched floral design for half the length with a crowned anchor on the left and the royal coat of arms on the right. The left side of the ricasso has the makers name 'HOBSON & SONS (LONDON) LTD LONDON.' On the right side of the ricasso is an interlocking triangle symbol surrounding a small impressed circle with 'PROVED H.S.' at its centre. The scabbard is black leather with three gilt brass fittings. The sword is contained in a cotton cover.
History / Summary
Used by Lieutenant Commander Albert Edward Reginald 'Reg' Fox, a Special Branch officer with the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) during the Second World War.
Fox was born at Portsmouth, England, in 1910. He is thought to have been a wireless officer in the Merchant Navy when, in 1932, he joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) with whom he undertook short annual training courses. He was a sub-lieutenant when he retired from the RANR in June 1938.
Fox joined the RANVR in Sydney on 10 January 1942 as the RAN could not find a way of reinstating him to the RANR. He was allocated to Special Branch, specialising in signals and communications. In July 1943 he was posted as a lieutenant to HMAS Basilisk, the navy's shore base at Port Moresby in New Guinea, which was responsible for training naval beach commandos. In October of the same year Fox was transferred to HMAS Ladava, the shore base at Milne Bay. From April 1944 until his discharge from full-time service, on 19 February 1946, he was posted to Navy Office in Melbourne.
Fox remained a member of the RANVR. In June 1950 his previous acting rank of lieutenant commander, dating from September 1945, was confirmed. He was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Officer's Decoration in June 1951.