Survival knife and scabbard : Captain Ian Bottrell, 2nd Australian UNTAG Contingent, 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers

United States Marine Corps 'KA-BAR' type of double edged combat knife. The rear cutting edge features a fine 'saw tooth' finish. The grip is made from leather, with the rounded and hexagonal shaped metal end. The leather scabbard has ten small rivets and a rectangular shaped compartment is sewn on the exterior of the scabbard for a sharpening stone. This compartment is secured by a press stud flap. A sharpening stone for the combat knife is included. On the reverse surface of the scabbard is hand written in black ink 'BOTTRELL'. The manufacturer's details are also attached to the reverse, indicating that this knife was made in the USA by the Ontario Knife Company to a US Military contract (NSN number 00 indicates US military) and that it was manufactured on '8/87'.

Part of the basic field webbing equipment worn by Captain Ian Bottrell who commanded 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Australian Engineers, which formed a part of the 2nd Australian contingent to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, Namibia (UNTAG) between August 1989 and April 1990.

On his arrival in Namibia Bottrell and his Troop occupied part of a South African Defence Force (SADF) base in Rundu on the Angolan-Namibian border. From this base they conducted a number of operations which included engineer support to the United Nations (UN)forces in north-eastern Namibia, SDAF munitions retrieval, demolition tasks and assistance to the local population.

During this time Captain Bottrell was promoted to captain and he and his Troop occupied the base until the removal of the UN forces in April 1990.

Bottrell graduated from Duntroon in 1986 as a lieutenant and completed a degree in civil engineering in 1987. In 1988 he was posted as a troop commander to the 20th Divisional Engineer Support Squadron where he remained until August 1989.