Scabbard for Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, 1st pattern, Trooper Ralph Hooper, No 5 Commando, 1941

Manufactured by Wilkinson Sword Company Limited.

The double-edged Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes during the 1930s and adopted by British Special Forces during the World War Two (1939-1945). Its long blade was designed to penetrate the body after passing through up to three inches of clothing.

Trooper Ralph Hooper served with the Royal Tank Regiment before joining No 5 Commando, Army Commandos. The unit participated in raids on German occupied France in 1941, took part in the capture of Madagascar from Vichy French forces and then was transferred to India in 1943. No 5 Commando fought in the Arakan campaign in Burma in 1944 and continued to operate against the Japanese in the Far East until the end of the War.