Chinese made swagger stick to a China Horse Marine

[kanemono]

Here is a Chinese made swagger stick that belonged to Captain George J. Nowack who was born on January 9, 1896 in Rochester, New York. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1921 after serving six years with the 12th Calvary, US Army. Nowack was an expert saddler, farrier (specialist in equine hoof care) and blacksmith. He served in the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, Culebra, Puerto Rico, Headquarters Company, Eleventh Regiment, Ocotal, Nicaragua, Headquarters Company, First Brigade, United States Marine Corps, Port Au Prince, Republic Of Haiti and twice with Headquarters Detachment, Marine Mounted Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping, China, as a Veterinarian. He is pictured here with his mount "Shannon" at the American Embassy, Peiping, China, about 1936. The last mounted unit of these "China Horse Marines" (including Nowack) was retired in March 1938 when the detachment, numbering one officer and thirty marines, was disbanded. Nowack was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in January 1943. Captain George J. Nowack died on December 27, 1946 in Tientsin, China. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

This stick has an ivory top and a silver EGA with a scroll engraved with PUERTO RICO, NICARAGUA, HAITI and CHINA. The top of the stick has a silver disc engraved GEORGE J. NOWACK, PEIPING, U.S.M.C. The swagger stick is 23 1/2" long.

[Montana40]

Awesome one-of-a-kind military treasure. Thanks for sharing

[Dirk]

Nice! Nowack was the last NCOIC of the mounted and the Schatzel family passed along an amusing story of the OIC taking riding lessons from Nowack before he assumed command

[kanemono]

Nowack is pictured here with his mount "Shannon" at the American Embassy, Peiping, China, about 1936. Mounted around 1920 an the American Legation Polo team, Peiping, China

 

 

[kanemono]

Thanks for the comments. Dirk, a friend bought this for me on Friday afternoon at the last Baltimore show. He saw it as he was bringing items in for his table. I will post this with your sticks. Nowack is in my Angstadt photo album and is pictured in China Horse Marine. I wish I would have been able to put this in the book with Novack's photograph.

[bobgee]

A beauty!

[teufelhunde.ret]

Exquisite!