Australian Army uniforms; Page 4

This 1855 illustration of the NSW Volunteer Artillery at drill at Fort Macquarie shows that it may not require a uniform to serve the Country

Pitt's Militia. 1863. These troops went to NZ to fight the Maori in the New Zealand Wars (Land Wars). A gay and dashing uniform. Officers were entitled to 'a jacket of fine scarlet cloth, tastefully trimmed with silver, over which is worn a handsome silver shoulder belt. The trousers are tight steel-grey, with a stripe of silver lace on the side an inch and a half wide. The cap is grey, with a silver band edged with scarlet. It is worn without a peak, but with an Indian puggery.'

That, however, was formal wear. In the bush they wore much the same as other militiamen -forage caps, blue serge shirts, dark trousers tucked into blucher boots, and short leggings. In their haversacks they carried a tin plate, pannikin, knife, fork and spoon. Each day they were entitled to a gill of rum, a pound of meat, one and a quarter pounds of bread, one-sixth of an ounce of tea, one-sixth of an ounce of coffee, a quarter ounce of sugar and a grain of pepper and salt.

The 1st Australian Horse 1897 proved a spectacular sight in their myrtle green uniforms.

All buttons and badges were generally black, but were later changed to brass. The brass badge featured a kangaroo and emu supporting a shield emblazoned with the cross of St George and five stars of the Southern Cross, with a carbine and sword crossed in front.

These were secured by a boomerang with the motto "For hearths and homes".

A scroll with the words "Australian Horse" adorned the top of the shield and was supported by the shoulders of the kangaroo and emu.

The myrtle green slouch hat was turned up at the left hand side and featured the regimental badge.

It was ornamented by a black puggaree and black cock's plume.

Officers wore dress and undress tunics of myrtle green, the dress tunic being similar to that of the Rifle Regiments, with black mohair braid around the collar, tunic front and the seams at the back, the cuffs featuring black corded Austrian knots, while the front of the tunic was decorated with frogging, terminating in black net caps, and fastening with black olivettes. Breeches were myrtle green with double black stripes along the outside seams.

The black leather shoulder belt and pouch featured the Regimental badge, surrounded by a wreath of Waratahs. The black leather sabretache also featured the Regimental badge. Black leather gloves and black hussar pattern riding boots and spurs completed the uniform. Other ranks wore the undress jacket similar to officers undress, which was single breasted, myrtle green with black facing. Breeches were to match and were worn with black ankle boots and puttees. Hats the same for officers. The shoulder belt was of plain black leather with pouch, featuring the Regimental badge.

Melbourne, Vic. 1 April 1940.

Members of 5th Battalion Victorian Scottish Regiment on parade as they return from a three month training camp.

(Negative by G. Silk)

A black 'pyjama' style uniform worn by the Revolutionary Development Cadre (RDC) and adopted by their advisor trainers. This particular example was worn by 52506 Warrant Officer Class II (WO2) Leslie Daniel 'Aussie' Osborn MM, of Mount Pleasant, WA, a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) during his service with the RDC from 21 October 1969 until 8 July 1971. Osborn is pictured wearing this uniform in AWM photograph COM/69/0570/VN while serving with the RDC in Phuoc Tuy Province, and states that the RDC "built 73 houses for the people irrespective of whether their menfolk were on our side or not. During my time with them we lost approx 15 KIA and 60 to 70 WIA plus a few kidnappings."

Osborn had previously served in WWII. He left the Army but returned as the first Westralian to join K Force to fight the Korean War.

He served in 3 tours of Vietnam from 1964 until 1971, totalling 5 years. He had won a Military Medal when he saved the life of American officer Captain Paul Chalmers after their unit was ambushed in Thua Thien Province, Vietnam on May 29 1965.

Osborn in his Black Pyjamas advising on treatment for a child that was injured in a motorcycle accident.

The RDC was an American funded grass-roots initiative developed in early 1966 designed to counter the zeal of similar communist groups by a vision of social revolution based on democratic principles; it hoped to restore government influence amongst the South Vietnamese population as well provide them with effective military training. On the ground, this translated to 59 person hamlet-level cadres comprising doctors, teachers, tradesmen government representatives and a para-military component. Basic military training was provided by members of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam (ARVN) assisted by the Americans and the AATTV. Their success appeared to be limited to the period the teams stayed with the villagers. Osborn died in 1999