Mess kit scabbard for holding knife and chopsticks

Subject or historical figure Able Seaman William Ernest Gould (1 May 1879 - 23 November 1966)

Date1900

Object number00047684

NameScabbard

MediumWood, metal

DimensionsOverall: 28 x 235 x 23 mm, 60.5 g

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from John Jones Gould

Terms

DescriptionA scabbard from a mess kit used by Able Seaman William Gould during the Boxer Rebellion. It consists of a cylindrical lacquered wooden scabbard with decorative metal end pieces featuring three separate compartments for housing its components; a long knife and two chopsticks (registered as 00047685-687). This mess kit has a direct association with William Gould who served as an Able Seaman in the New South Wales Naval Brigade sent to China in August 1900. Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian troops were responsible for guarding and policing Tianjin (Tientsin) and Beijing (Peking) during the Boxer Rebellion.HistoryAustralia took its first step into East Asian conflicts in 1900, when three colonies sent support to the British at the Boxer War. This was a joint action by several nations including Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Russia and the USA to crush a violent uprising against foreigners in China. The action was immortalised in the Hollywood movie "55 days in Peking". The term Boxer was a Western corruption of the original Chinese name. South Australia lent its steel twin screw gunboat HMCS PROTECTOR (Her Majesty's Colonial Ship) with a crew of 110 to assist the British Royal Navy. Victoria and New South Wales sent naval brigade contingents totalling 462 men. The Aberdeen Line cargo passenger ship SS SALAMIS was requisitioned by the New South Wales government to transport the contingent to the conflict. The China Navigation Company Limited vessel SS CHINGTU was requisitioned to bring the contingents home. They steamed through Sydney Heads on 25 April 1901. Arriving after the main conflict was over; their main duty was guarding and policing Tianjin (Tientsin) and Beijing (Peking). The Australian colonial forces returned home by May 1901 and all men were issued with a medal known variously as the Boxer Rebellion medal, the Queen's China War medal and the Third China War medal. SignificanceThis mess kit and equipment represents Australia's presence in China by members of the Australian colonial navies following the Boxer Uprising in 1900.