Historical information

This skirt belonged to Joan Elizabeth Peck who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in the Second World War. Joan was born on 27 July 1919 in Acton England and enlisted in Echuca on the 6 January 1943. At the time of her discharge from the RAAF in 1945, Joan was serving as an Aircraftwoman with the 2 Air Observers School in Mount Gambier. Throughout the war, the Mt Gambier base operated under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Significance

This skirt was donated by the owner, Joan Peck, and has significant provenance. The inscriptions throughout facilitate significant research ability, though records are not publicly accessible and digitised at this time. Joan Peck’s uniform is also significant as an item of social history, revealing the role of local women in the home front war effort.

Physical description

Light khaki coloured skirt in cotton fabric. A-line skirt constructed of four panels with two darts on the back and two pockets on the front (as per photograph in Supplementary File). Side fastening on the left side with a series of four steel hook and eye fasteners. Two fasteners on the back waistband which are tightened by pulling through two steel rings. Peach-cream coloured bias binding on interior of hem. Label attached to the interior waistband of the skirt back, to the left and right of which is a handwritten inscription.

Inscriptions & markings

Waistband label reads: “V298/MADE IN/AUSTRALIA/1942/SIZE PECK”
Inscription handwritten on waistband interior: “105135.” To the right of the interior label: “J. E. PECK”