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Unread 11-04-2020, 04:41 PM   #2
rpbcps
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Congratulations, that is a nice luger.
Interestingly, while researching the Dutch East-Indies Lugers I came across some information about the Northern Australian Observer Unit (2/1 NAOU) which was issued with lugers during WW2, largely due to a shortage of service revolvers that were required for OS service.

These were originally believed to be captured German Lugers; however, the source stated these could have been DWM or Vickers contract Luger’s from the Dutch East-Indies, which to avoid them falling into the hands of the Japanese, were transferred to Australia when the Dutch East-Indies fell.

Your luger goes back to the captured German luger theory.

Another theory could be, similar to what happened in Britain in 1940, with the shortage of weapons, anything that the War Office could lay its hands on, was put into service. These could include weapons that had been brought back from WW1 as souvenirs and museum pieces. The same situation, although not as dire as Britain in 1940, could have arisen in Australia, no doubt many Australian veterans took souvenirs home from WW1.

On file, I have one photo of a Luger in service in 1941 with the British Special Service Brigade.
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Name:	Captain Gerald C. S. Montanaro of 101 Troop, Special Service Brigade, trg in Scotland, 9 October.jpg
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