First World War Bayonets donated to Rosebud RSL Sub-Branch
In 2021 Victoria Police’s Taskforce Echo conducted a raid as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Police found the expected stash of drugs, guns and ammunition but were surprised when they came across two pieces of stolen property that appeared to be antique edge weapons.
Unsure what they had found detectives from Taskforce Echo had the weapons examined by a military historian, expert in weaponry of the First World War. The historian confirmed they were First World War era bayonets; one issued by the British army and the other originating from the French army.
Despite significant enquiries, the rightful owner of the stolen property could not be traced.
“Unfortunately, and despite a significant amount of work, we were never able to find the owners. We wanted to make sure that the weapons didn’t end up being destroyed so that piece of history wouldn’t be lost forever,” Ciaran Duryea said.
Detective Sergeant Duryea had previously attended the Rosebud RSL to deliver a presentation and remembered the magnificent display of memorabilia hosted at the Sub-Branch.
“It’s not every day that you seize a weapon that is over 100 years old, let alone one that has some historical significance,” said Detective Sergeant Duryea.
Rosebud RSL Sub-Branch President, Bruce Tanner, is proud of the collection of military pieces in the Sub-Branches collection. As an armorer in the Australian Army for 23 years he worked with everything from artillery to pistols and bayonets to officers’ swords so has a good working knowledge of the items displayed.
“We were very pleased to accept the offer of these incredible items from Victoria Police and grateful to the detectives from Taskforce Echo for thinking of us,” Bruce Tanner said.
The donation from Victoria Police was not the first time the Sub-Branch had been offered a donation from an unusual source.
“Many of the items in our collection have strange beginnings. We have a replica Japanese surrender sword which a Magistrate ordered be donated to us as part of a court case,” Mr Tanner said.
On Friday June 13 Detective Sergeant Ciaran Duryea and Senior Sergeant James Keegan from Rosebud police attended Rosebud RSL Sub-Branch to present the First World Bayonets to their new home.
“From a local policing perspective, we’re rapt to be able to support our community this way and that something good has come from this seizure,” Senior Sergeant James Keegan said. “We may not have found the owners, but we’ve been able to do the next best thing with these items.”
The police officers said that if the RSL had not accepted the items the historic pieces would have been lost.
“Ultimately, had we not had the support of the RSL, these items would likely have been destroyed,” Senior Sergeant Keegan said.
Bruce Tanner said the bayonets would join the other military equipment on display at the Sub-Branch including SLR’s, M16’s and a rifle from the Boer War.
“The bayonets will be on display in our cabinets for all of the community to view,” said Bruce Tanner. “Rest assured it is all very secure,” Bruce Tanner.
