Historical information

This jacket is part of a winter mess dress uniform belonging to Bernard Farley during service with the Australian Airforce. Worn in 1978, this jacket style was first developed in the 1950s and continues to be worn as mess uniform in the present day.

Significance

This item has aesthetic significance and is a representative example of uniform design from the 1950s to present day. This item has clear provenance, having been donated by RSL member and Secretary (2019), Bernard Farley after its use during Bernard’s service in the Airforce. As a former member of the Australian Airforce and member of the Warrnambool ex-service community, Bernard’s uniform has great social significance, telling a broader story of life after service.

Physical description

Dark navy blue dress jacket with long sleeves ending at waist height. Jacket is double breasted with eight metal buttons; two buttons are larger and held on by safety pins. Buttons are gold in colour and marked with a crown and eagle motif. Lapels on jacket are of a lighter, grey-blue. Jacket is adorned with epaulettes on both left and right shoulder, attached with a cotton loop on each shoulder and held in place with a screw-in gold button. Jacket has synthetic lining in cream colour and an interior pocket on the left hand side; lining is detatched on both the left and right sides at the base.

Inscriptions & markings

Label on interior collar reads “C.G.C.F”
Epaulettes bear three lines in gold embroidered stitching and a badge depicting an eagle underneath a crown, also in gold.