Aussie Uniforms 1900 to 1970

1. Trooper, Mounted Infantry, South Africa 1900
   1. Note the pressed cotton and cord puggaree, the Mk1 SMLE (Lee Enfield) rifle with 50 rounds  in the shoulder slung bandolier. 
   2. Note the short rifle bucket to hold the rifle butt without  hampering the riders ability to lift the rifle clear as required. 
   3. Note the bottom fixed puttees (later versions were top fixed). 
   4. Note that the horse & rider carry all their requirements including a small amount of fodder. 
   5. Plumes would be Emu if a Queenslander or black cock's feathers if from NSW.
2. Major, NSW Lancers 1900
   1. Note the red puggaree and the plumes of black cock's feathers . 
   2. Note the high top boots and the brown, not khaki, uniform with red stripes on the legs.

1. Sergeant, 27th Battalion 7th Brigade 2nd Division AIF, 1918
   1. Note the Anzac A on the colour patch.
   2. Note the top fixed puttees over brown boots. 
   3. Note the private purchase folded cotton puggaree replacing the plain woolen issue version.
   4. Note the rifle has it's canvas breech cover fitted.
   5. Note the 4 blue overseas service chevrons on the lower right sleeve.
   6. Note the all canvas webbing has replaced the earlier issued leather equipment. 
2. Sergeant, Field Artillery 3rd Division AIF, 1918
   1. Note the ribbon of the Military Medal
   2. Note the leather leggings and leather bandoliers as worn by Field Artillery and Light Horse units.
   3. Note the plain woolen puggaree.
   4. Note the tunic has faded to blue-grey from the khaki as issued. 
3. Company Sergeant Major (CSM), 1st Machine Gun Battalion 1st Division AIF, 1918.
   1. Note the ribbons of the Military Cross (MC) and the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and the Military Medal (MM).
   2. Note the combination of leather and canvas webbing.
   3. Note that below the colour patch is the crossed Vickers badge of the Machine Gun Units. These were typically felt but in some cases metal ones were worn.

1. Trooper, 4th Australian Light Horse AIF, Palestine 1917
   1. Note the extra bandolier around the horse's neck as well as the one slung around the rider's neck.
   2. Note the Emu plumes approved for wear by all Light Horse units (although some abstained).
   3. Note the leather eye "fly shades" as used to protect the horse's eyes from fly strike.
   4. To see his equipment
2. Private, 7th Battalion AIF, Gallipoli, August 1915
   1. Note the white identification arm bands and patch on the back as worn when going into an assault.
   2. Note the tunic has faded to blue-grey from the original khaki.
3. Private, AIF in "Gallipoli undress uniform", Gallipoli 1915
   1. Note the two up pennies on the ground in front of the Digger.
   2. Note the cut off trousers.
   3. Note the absence of puttees or long sox.
   4. Note the absence of a shirt.
   5. Note the belt with a collection of hat badges from other units.
   6. Note the curved quillion (protector) on the bayonet which was unique to the early AIF.
   7. Note the canvas webbing as opposed to the leather webbing issued to some early infantry units.
   8. Note the dixies (steel eating equipment) on the ground.
   9. Note the ever present flies.

1. Private, 2/13th Battalion 9th Division AIF, Tobruk 1941
   1. Note the greatcoat worn to ward off the cold of a North African desert winter where snow was not impossible.
2. Corporal, 2/1st Battalion 6th Division AIF, North Africa 1941/42.
   1. Note the Boyes Anti-tank rifle (Charley the Bastard).
   2. Note the steel helmet ("tin hat") that was worn in the campaign but only under sufferance as they were uncomfortable and disliked.
   3. Note the older style long tunic as opposed to the British battle dress blouse that was coming into use at that time.
3. Captain, 2/14th Battalion 7th Division AIF, North Africa 1941/42
   1. Note the tropical  or summer uniform with shorts and rolled shirt sleeves.
   2. Note the short puttees worn over sox to keep sand out of the boots.
   3. Note the British style rank badges on a scarlet backing.
   4. Note the goggles which are cellophane and original designed as anti-gas goggles.

1. Sergeant 2/31st Battalion 25th Brigade 7th Division AIF, Papua New Guinea, 1941/42
   1. Based on the famous historian John Laffin
   2. Note the US issue canvas gaiters.
   3. Note the jungle green uniform (dyed from khaki which explains the fading to blue-grey).
   4. The puggaree with colour patch and hat badge would not be worn in the front line.
2. Infantryman (Bren gunner), Papua New Guinea, 1943/44
   1. Note the trousers have been roughly cut down into shorts.
   2. Note the steel helmet which was often replaced by a cheap cotton beret.
   3. Note the machete & sheath on the belt.
3. Commando, Independent Company, South West Pacific area, 1944
   1. Note the US Army issue herringbone twill trousers.
   2. Note the black felt beret (standard issue for Commandos).
   3. Note the Owen Machine Carbine (OMC) an Australian made sub-machine gun.
   4. Note the Mills grenades (M36) and the shortened bayonet.
   5. Note the private purchase scarf/sweat rag around the neck.

1. Major, 8th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR) c.1968
   1. This is the normal jungle green work uniform in it's parade version (summer ceremonial), heavily starched and ironed crisp worn with polished GP boots, medals and sword with a Sam Browne belt.
   2. Note the coloured lanyard worn by Units of that time. Each battalion/Corps had it's own colour.
   3. Note the RAR badge on the hat
2. Private, Royal Australian Infantry Corps c.1975
   1. Note the US Army pattern steel helmet (much hated by the troops).
   2. Note the Colt AR15 (M16) rifle and bayonet.
   3. Note the US pattern webbing.
3. Private, 5th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR), Vietnam c.1966
   1. Note the bush hat.
   2. Note the GPMG M60 ammo belts slung around the neck.
   3. Note the smoke grenade and the US pattern M26 fragmentation grenade.
   4. The weapon is a General Purpose Machine Gun M 60 (GPMG M60) called "the gun".
   5. Note the woven Rising Sun badge on the upper arm (this was not normal for a bush shirt).
   6. Note the black ankle boots with the black Australian pattern 3 buckle canvas gaiters that were replaced by the GP boots soon thereafter.

1. Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA) c.1970
   1. Note the Patrol Blues uniform.
   2. Note the parachute badge on the upper right sleeve and the Army pilot's wings on the left breast.
   3. Note the red cap band and the gold trim on the cap brim. This gave rise to the term "brass hat".
2. Cadet Colour Sergeant, Royal Military College Duntroon  (RMC) c.1970
   1. Note the red sash of a Colour Sergeant (or Duty Sergeant).
   2. Note the Colours Sergeant's badge
   3. More details at Colour Sgt
3. Corporal, 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) c.1970
   1. This Corporal is wearing the summer ceremonial uniform of the time called 'polyesters' or 'polys'.
   2. Note the 2 standard Vietnam War medals and the Infantry Combat badge on the left chest, the US Presidential Unit Citation emblem (for Kapyong) on the right chest, the metal RAR shoulder titles, the RAR hat badge, the Rifle Green lanyard and the khaki polyester straight cut, short neck-tie.
   3. Note the L1A1 SLR (self loading rifle) with polished black parade sling and the matching bayonet.
   4. Note the polished black webbing belt with highly polished brass buckle and clips.

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