Savage Model 1915 Pistol: Portugese Military Forces

Savage Model 1915 Semi Automatic Pistol. Barrel marked with the company name, address and 1905 patent date. Left side of the frame is engraved SAVAGE. Black plastic checkered grips with the company trade mark of an indian head and Savage Quality within a circle. It is complete with a nine shot magazine and has a wire lanyard ring on the butt. It is chambered for .38 calibre ammunition.

This Savage 1915 pistol and holster was given to the Australian War Museum by the Portugese Government in 1920, part of a complete set of uniform and equipment representing Portuguese service in the First World War

However it had another life for a brief period in 1939 when it was issued to an employee of the Australian War Memorial for personal protection.

When the film manager of the Australian War Memorial, Stephen Harold Stack, was touring the AWM film, "We of the AIF" around Australia in 1939, the film was earning good money - to such an extent that Smith (then in Adelaide) wrote to John Treloar, the Director of the Memorial, to ask for a pistol for self protection. Treloar willingly agreed ("two suitable weapons with a supply of ammunition are on my table now" wrote Treloar on 18 August) and supplied this Savage Model 1915 pistol - sent to Stack on 11 September 1939 accompanied by the following letter:

"Under separate registered cover I have forwarded to you the pistol described in the attached application for a licence. It is being sent complete with holster, magazine containing a few rounds of ammunition, and cleaning brush.
"This is the smallest pistol we have and therefore the most convenient for you.

"Will you please hold it in safe custody and return it to the War Memorial when no longer required by you."

Accompanying the letter was an 'Application for Gun (or Pistol) Licence' in the name of Stephen Harold Stack arranged by John Treloar.

Stephen Stack acknowledged the receipt of the pistol in a letter to Treloar dated 14 September 1939. He reported that he had 'handed it to the armourer and munitions expert, Mitch, who has taken temporary possession for the purpose of oiling and cleaning.

"Advised Mitch, that as far as a souvenir is concerned, this particular pistol is Out of Bounds".

Stack returned the pistol in late 1941 when the film 'We of the AIF' had completed touring with AWM managers (instead using a prerecorded soundtrack), but from the records it appears the licence was renewed yearly in September 1942, and again in 1944 when 'Sons of the Anzacs' was again touring.

Details taken from file AWM93 3/1/81/5 - covering the administrative details of the touring of "We of the AIF" and "Sons of the Anzacs".

Stephen Harold Stack was a veteran of the First World having enlisted at Marrickville, NSW on 28 April 1916 with the 22 Howitzer Battery under service number 29166. He served in the 38th Battery, 10th Field Artillery Brigade operating 18 Pounders in France and southern Belgium. He was wounded on 21 August 1918 when the battery was supporting the Australian advance along the Somme River to the east of Harbonnieres.

After the war, Stack returned to his position in the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau before transferring to the Australian War Memorial in the late 1930s. Stack was made an officer of the civil division of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1951 for his work in establishing the War Veteran’s Homes at Narrabeen. He died in January 1955.