| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Palestine, North Palestine, Jenin |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM02023 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Firearm |
| Physical description | Metal, Wood |
| Maker |
Amberg Arsenal |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | c.1914-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
German signal pistol, Turkish Army : Trooper O E Rozynski, 4th Light Horse Regiment
Description
German single shot signal pistol. The frame is stamped with JK over the serial number on the left side and has a crown over A proof marks on the right indicating the Amberg Armoury. The barrel release catch has been removed. The two piece plain wooden grips are held to the frame with a single screw bolt and there is a lanyard ring on the butt.
History / Summary
This German-made signal pistol was recovered from the Jenin battlefield by 3638 Trooper Oscar Ernest Rozynski, 4th Light Horse Regiment on or around 22 September 1918. Oscar Rozynski enlisted on 15 March 1917 at Korumburra, Victoria, aged 22 and was assigned to the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He embarked for overseas service on 22 June from Melbourne aboard the transport ‘Port Lincoln’ and joined his unit in Moascar on 19 September.
Despite some sickness during 1918, Rozynski was detached to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 10 September 1918; his service record notes “to Jenin with Salvage Officer” between 22.9.18 and 4.10.18. It is therefore reasponable to assume this signal pistol was recovered from the Jenin area after it fell to Allied forces, rather than being captured during operations. Trooper Rozynski returned to Australia aboard the transport ‘Essex’ and was discharged at Melbourne on 25 September 1919.