Mannequin Display - Plunger Rifle Accessories, 1910

The plunger rifle bayonet training ensemble exhibit in the World War One Gallery contains the padded vest and barred mask worn during training with the plunger bayonet training rifle. The spring compression of the plunger would simulate the sinking in of the bayonet during an assault strike. Training realism was achieved with a one against one scenario and a live opponent. Equipment on this scale was expensive, given the robustness needed for the face guard and vest to withstand hard use. With the onset of the mass training requirements of the Australian Imperial force, straw stuffed targets and actual weapons were used in bayonet training.