The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Black leather sabretache with white leather straps. The front of the case has a gold Queen Victoria cypher.
The sabretache was an early form of despatch case for carrying documents. First used by Hungarian light horse in the 1700s, they were introduced into the British Army between 1806 and 1808. The use of the sabretache by the British Army and colonies was discontinued in 1901.
This example relates to the service of Major Julien Thomas Blanchard, possibly during his time with the Sudan Contingent in 1885.
Blanchard was born in Sydney, NSW on 18 September 1844. He was commissioned with the NSW Forces on 15 December 1862 and was appointed the Clerk of Goat Island Magazine. Promoted Assistant Ordnance Storekeeper and Barracks master on 1 April 1871 and then Ordnance Storekeeper and Barracks master on 20 July 1876. Blanchard served as the Paymaster and Commissariat Officer attached to the NSW Sudan Contingent Headquarters. He was promoted Major on 1 August 1888 and became Assistant Commissary General of Ordnance on 20 February 1891. He became a member of the Ordnance Store Corps on its formation in July 1895. Blanchard was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 July 1897 and retained command as the Assistant Commissary General of Ordnance. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel on 1 September 1902. Colonel Blanchard died 1913.
Egypt Medal 1882 -1889 with the bar 'SUAKIN 1885'. The recipient's number, rank, name and regiment are engraved on the edge. Obverse: The diademed and veiled head of Queen Victoria with the legend, 'V
Khedive's Star (1882 - 1891). Unnamed as issued. Obverse: In the centre is the Sphinx with the three Great Pyramids in the background. Around this is a raised band, on the upper part of which is embos
Mayor of Sydney's Silver Soudan Medal. The obverse shows the coat of arms for Sydney. Above it, on a solid semi-circular suspender, drilled to take a ring and ribbon, is the word 'SOUDAN'. The reverse
Stone pendant encased in a silver frame with the word 'Mizpah' on a diagonal silver banner across the centre obverse. It has a small suspension ring attached to a loop at the top of the frame. The whi
Mayor of Sydney's Silver Soudan Medal. The obverse shows the coat of arms for Sydney. Above it, on a solid semi-circular suspender, drilled to take a ring and ribbon, is the word 'SOUDAN'. The reverse
Stone pendant encased in a silver frame with the word 'Mizpah' on a diagonal silver banner across the centre obverse. It has a small suspension ring attached to a loop at the top of the frame. The whi
Egypt Medal 1882 -1889 with the bar 'SUAKIN 1885'. The recipient's number, rank, name and regiment are engraved on the edge. Obverse: The diademed and veiled head of Queen Victoria with the legend, 'V
Khedive's Star (1882 - 1891). Unnamed as issued. Obverse: In the centre is the Sphinx with the three Great Pyramids in the background. Around this is a raised band, on the upper part of which is embos
Officer's undress black patent leather sabretache with black morocco leather foul-weather cover. The front flap is made of a stiff highly polished black patent leather applied to both sides of the fla
Dark blue morocco leather Royal Artillery officer's sabretache. The front flap is covered in dark blue cloth edged with gold bullion artillery pattern lace. The centre bears raised gold bullion embroi
