Knuckle knife issued to Lieutenant 'Ted' Carse for Operation Jaywick
Date1943
Object number00055853
NameKnife
MediumSteel, copper-alloy
DimensionsOverall: 55 × 262 × 15 mm
ClassificationsArmament
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with the support of the Australian Government through the National Cultural Heritage Account and the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation through the generosity of the families of Ted Carse's brothers.
DescriptionSteel 'knuckle knife' and leather scabbard issued to Lieutenant Hubert Edward 'Ted' Carse by Australia's Special Reconnaissance Department for his involvement in Operation Jaywick.HistoryThe 'knuckle knife' in this collection was issued to Lt H.E. 'Ted' Carse, RANVR as a Z Special Unit operative during the Second World War, and specifically for his involvement in Operation Jaywick (as the commander of MV KRAIT).
On the night of 26 September 1943, six members of Australia’s Z Special Unit carried out a daring clandestine raid against Imperial Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour. To avoid detection, the men had been transported deep into enemy territory aboard a Japanese-built fishing vessel, assumed the appearance of local fishermen, and launched their attack using folding kayaks and limpet mines. The mission, Operation Jaywick, was a complete success, resulting in the damage or destruction of seven Japanese ships and no Allied losses.
Hubert Edward Carse had joined the Royal Australian Navy as a 13 year old Cadet Midshipman and resigned his commissionin 1921. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he was mobilised by proclamation and reported for duty with the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. He was promoted Lieutenant (provisional) on 4 January 1943, joined Z Force later the same month, and was assigned command of Krait during Operation Jaywick.
Following the raid’s successful conclusion, Carse continued to work with Z Force. Most of the commandos who participated in Operation Jaywick were tragically killed in a follow-up raid on Singapore Harbour called Operation Rimau. Carse was one of the few Jaywick operatives to survive the war, was mentioned in despatches in 1944, and discharged from military service in 1946.
He was later instrumental in facilitating the return of KRAIT to Australia from Borneoduring the 1960s. KRAIT is a nationally-significant object in the collections of the Australian War Memorial, but has been on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum since 1988. Carse died at Newtown, New South Wales in 1970.SignificanceThe 'knuckle knife' is highly significant due to its association with Lieutenant Hubert Edward Carse, who acted as MV KRAIT's master and navigator during Operation Jaywick, and was largely responsible for the vessel's successful return voyage to Singapore Harbour (and by extension the successful outcome of the raid). Knuckle knives of this type were only issued to the 14 service personnel who participated in Operation Jaywick, and only one other example is known to exist in the collections of an Australian public museum.
