Mauser C96 Pistol Stock/Holster : Hauptmann H Wuchert, Imperial German Army Reserve

Wooden Holster/stock for a Mauser C96 semi automatic pistol. The hinged flap has been broken in half and repaired. On the left side of the holster ' Commander R G Bowen RAN 1915' is written in ink.

This item served a dual purpose, as a holster and as a means for converting the pistol into a defacto carbine. Once the weapon was removed from the holster, a dovetailed fitting on the pistol butt engaged with a mating fitting on the holster, allowing the holster to be brought up to one's shoulder. This allowed the user to steady the weapoin and lay down more accurate fire.

The hoster was originally in the possession of Hauptmann (Captain) Hans Wuchert, a plantation owner in the Pondo region of New Britain and an Imperial German Army Reservist.

Wuchert and other German Army reservists were mobilised when it became known that an Australian Force was heading to New Britain in 1914. He was placed in charge of eight white and 60 native soldiers and sent to occupy the Bitapaka wireless station.

When Australian Forces landed at Simpsonshafen and Herbertshohe on 11 September 1914, Wuchert sent scouting parties to gather information. When the scouts failed to return, Wuchert took his men down the Bitiapaka-Kabakaul Road where they occupied defensive positions.

The Germans ambushed the Australians, causing the first combat deaths for Australia in the First World War. After several hours, Wuchert and another soldier were forced to surrender. He handed over his service pistol but retained his knife. A further, detailed search uncovered the knife and it was seized.

The confiscated weapons were given to Lieutenant (later Commander) Rowland Griffiths Bowen, RAN who had been wounded in the head during the Australians' attack towards Bitapaka.