Sword Bayonet, Pattern 1903 : Warrant Officer Class 1 E W Sharpe, 5th Pioneer Battalion, AIF

Pattern 07 bayonet with single edged blade, fullered on both sides. Ring and mortise slot with locking bolt secures the bayonet to the rifle nosecap. The wooden grips are secured by two screws while the press stud for the locking bolt is situated on the left side of the beak shaped pommel.

This bayonet was used by Edward William Sharpe during his service in the First World War. Sharpe enlisted into the AIF on 7 July 1915. 347 Sergeant Sharpe embarked with 29 Battalion on board HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915 from Melbourne. He disembarked at Egypt on 7 December. On 2 January 1916, while at the Suez Canal, the Government Steam Launch, Allorette sank. Sharpe's leg were caught in the steering gear and his knees were twisted. For the rest of the war he had problems with his knees swelling on and off.

He was transferred to 5 Pioneer Battalion in March 1916 and was promoted to company sergeant major, regimental sergeant major, and then warrant officer class 1. He embarked from Alexandria on 19 June 1916, arriving at Marseilles on 25 June. He was briefly in hospital in August, before returning to his unit. On 7 November 1917 he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches for distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty during 26 February to 20 September 1917. He was hospitalised due to his knees in February 1918. He was deemed medically unfit due to his knees, and because he had developed emphysema. He left England on 18 April 1918 on board HMAT Marathon and was discharged upon his return to Australia. His health did not improve and he died ten months after he returned to Australia on 28 April 1919, aged 48 years old.