RAA LIAISON LETTER- 2025 – 2026 EDITION CANNONBALL SUPPLEMENT 125 The Airey Sword The Story of a Colonial Era Sword GIFTED TO A BATTERY BY BRIGADIER (RETD.) W.M. SILVERSTONE IN 2026 Brigadier (Retd.) John Cox AM History Director, Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company (RAAHC)Chairman, RAA Regimental History Committee An historically significant sword, assessed to be about 135 years old, and originally owned by an officer prominent in the formative years of the colonial New South Wales permanent field artillery has been gifted to A Battery for safe keeping and perpetual use by the battery’s Battery Commanders (BC’s). The sword is known as ‘The Airey Sword’ and is displayed in A Battery’s history room, namely the Henry Green Room. The W.K.&C. Solingen made sword is rare. It provides a tangible link to the pre-federation era of the NSW field artillery and to officers who were significant in the development of the Colony’s field artillery capability. The Regiment and the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company have thanked Brigadier Silverstone for his generosity and for caring for the Regiment’s heritage. Background Brigadier William (Bill) Maxwell Silverstone (b. 1929) was the Commander Field Force Artillery (in Field Force Command) with a headquarters at Victoria Barracks, Paddington (1979-1980). He was the last Brigadier General Royal Artillery (BGRA) in the Australian Army. Near retirement, in 1980, a friend alerted Brigadier Silverstone to the availability of a rare artillery sword at a local antique dealer. Brigadier Silverstone was experienced in acquiring antiques. The sword was said to be historically significant because it was originally owned by a well-known artillery officer from the later colonial period of New South Wales. Another friend, Major Jack Balsillie MBE, separately assessed the sword’s authenticity. Brigadier Silverstone purchased the sword, and he displayed it for years before safely storing it. In late 2025 he thought it would be appropriate to gift the sword to A Battery so its historical links could be appreciated into the future. He contacted the Chair of the Regimental History Committee (article author) for assistance.i An ‘Airey’ Connection As Brigadier Silverstone recalls, the antique dealer’s original note described aspects of the sword’s provenance; however, the note was misplaced in the intervening 45 years. The sword was not in mint condition when acquired; it was showing its age even in 1980. When Brigadier Silverstone recently unwrapped the sword which had been stored for a few years it had corroded to the extent that its markings were indecipherable. Brigadier Silverstone recalls that the antique dealer had said the sword was owned by an officer with the surname Airey, and that the owner had served with the NSW Contingent in the Sudan in 1885. Three officers with the Airey surname served in the Sudan.ii Each of the Aireys had roles in the early leadership and development of the NSW Artillery. Lieutenant Chris Clark explored the roles of two prominent officers with the surname Airey in an article in 1974.iii The contenders are: Henry Parke Airey CMG, DSO (1842-1911), significant appointments:ivvvi • 1877: appointed Lieutenant to the newly raised 3rd Battery, NSW Permanent Artillery • 1885: as a lieutenant he accompanied the New South Wales contingent to the Sudan History & Heritage Swords, Symbols & Cyphers
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