Scabbard for New South Wales Naval Brigade Midshipman's Dirk

Maker John Adams and Son

Datec 1865

Object number00031682

NameScabbard

MediumBrass, leather

DimensionsOverall: 445 x 80 mm

ClassificationsArmament

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

Devonport

DescriptionThis scabbard houses a very rare midshipman's dirk used by members of the New South Wales Naval Brigade.HistoryThe NSW Naval Brigade was formed in 1863 of volunteers, many time-expired Royal Navy men, led by one paid commanding officer. By 1864, five companies of naval volunteers-four in Sydney and one in Newcastle-had been formed. The Brigade numbered over 300 men by the mid 1870s. The Brigade had very few actual vessels: three gunboats were built in Sydney in 1863, four schooners were built in 1873, and two torpedo vessels were purchased in 1878. One commentator disparagingly remarked in 1882: 'they rarely, if ever, drill in daylight, and have never exercised afloat. The force, at present, if of no value for service afloat, and is not really a Naval Brigade.' The Brigade was sent to China in 1900 in response to the Boxer uprising. Midshipman's dirks were fist officially introduced to the British Navy in 1856, though dirks were used by various naval officers and civilians prior to this date. They were discontinued in 1946. There are very few surviving dirks associated with the New South Wales Naval Brigade. In an 1897 photo of the N.S.W. Naval Defence Force, which consisted of the Naval Brigade and the Naval Artillery Volunteers, only three of the numerous midshipmen were wearing dirks.SignificanceThis scabbard houses one of only two known surviving midshipman's dirks associated with the New South Wales Naval Brigade.