Folding trench periscope : Sergeant E W Hammond, 11 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Folding concertina type metal trench periscope finished in an overall medium green coloured paint. In the top and bottom viewing apertures is a piece of rectangular shaped of glass. The trench periscope comes complete with a natural leather case with attached buckle for securing the folding top. Marked on case are the names Kirwen and No. 24 Edwards 28/9/15.

During the Gallipoli campaign Australian and New Zealand troops used both specially made and improvised trench periscopes for observing the Turkish and German held trenches opposite them. This folding metal trench periscope is an example of the former.

This periscope is associated with the service of 24 Sergeant Ernest Waldemar Hammond, a signaller with 11th Light Horse Regiment, AIF. Prior to joining the AIF, Hammond volunteered to be part of a civilian battalion raised in Queensland, mainly from rifle clubs, to serve with the Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force. The ill-equipped and inexperienced battalion, known as the ‘Dirty 500’, were embroiled in a mutiny on board SS ‘Kanowna’ by the ship’s stokers shortly after joining the main force and the ship was ordered back to Australia before the men could see any service. The battalion was disbanded following its return.

Undeterred, Hammond enlisted in the AIF on 3 February 1915 and was posted as a trooper with 11 Light Horse Regiment. For unknown reasons, he enlisted under the name Ernest Edwards but declared his real name by statutory declaration in 1917; the name' Edwards" is marked on the periscope case, dating its use to prior to 1917.

Hammond saw service on Gallipoli from 29 August to the last day of the evacuation on 20 December 1915. Following subsequent service in the Middle East he returned to Australia in July 1919 and was discharged on 29 December. The history of the 11th Light Horse Regiment was written by Hammond and published in 1942.