The Priory Sword is one of the three key symbols of the Order (the other two are the Cross and the Banner).
In this context, a sword is used as an emblem of the Sovereign’s Royal authority. Each Priory and Commandery may have a ceremonial sword to represent the delegated authority of the Sovereign (currently His Majesty King Charles III).
When carried in procession, swords of the Order of St John are always sheathed, to denote the Order’s non-combatant role. The swords are only unsheathed when conferring the accolade of the Order upon Knights/Dames, or Bailiffs/Dames Grand Cross.
The Order of St John does not specify any particular design for swords. However, most are based on the two handed long-sword typically carried by Knights in Europe in the middle ages.
The sword used by the Australian Priory was a gift from the Grand Priory in 1944, presented by the Grand Prior, HRH the Duke of Gloucester who was Governor-General at the time. Note that in 1944, Australia was not yet a Priory – it was a Commandery (hence the wording on the scabbard – see below). Priory status was later conferred in 1946.
The Latin inscription on the scabbard reads:
The English translation is: “This sword was presented by the Grand Priory in the British Realm of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem to the Commandery of Australia. AD 1944.”
The sword rests upon two silver sword stands – a lion and a unicorn – the “Royal beasts”.
References
Oxer HF. The ceremonial swords of St John. St John History, 2009; 9: 56-67.
Oxer HF. Ceremonial Swords of the Order of St John. St John Ambulance Australia: Perth, 2013.