Historical information

These trousers are part of a Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps uniform. The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC) is responsible for various logistics and organisational operations, such as maintenance of parachutes, fuel distribution, personnel administration, exlosive disposal and laundy operations. The trousers were manufactured in 1969 and were worn by an unknown RAAOC serviceman. The patches on the sleeves of the corresponding jacket denote that he had earned qualifications as a parachuter and a marksman and that he was a Warrant Officer 1. Due to the period of manufacture it can be presumed that the serviceman whom this uniform belonged to served in the Vietnam War.

Significance

As historic military uniform trousers dating to 1968, it is presumed that this item would have been used in service during the Vietnam War. The wearer of the uniform is unknown, however the patches and flashes attached signify that the serviceman worked for the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, earned qualifications as a parachuter and marksman and ranked highly as a Warrant Officer 1. The item is representative of a type of uniform worn by high ranking RAAOC servicemen during the 1960’s. It is also in very good condition for its age.

Physical description

khaki coloured trousers which are composed of a heavy fabric. The trousers button up at the front with 6 plastic buttons. There is an additional strip of fabric attached to the right-hand fly which can be fastened with an extra button on the interior of the left-hand fly. There are an additional 6 buttons along the interior waistband. There are also three buttons on the exterior waistband down the front and a buckle. The buttons are composed of brown plastic. There are two open hip pockets, one on either side, and another button-up pocket on the right-hand side of the back. There is a white label with inscriptions attached to the interior of the back pocket with an extra piece of fabric attached for mending patches.

Inscriptions & markings

Printed in black inscriptions on the white label:
CONWAY BROS. PTY. LTD
ADELAIDE 1969
(a broad arrow)
Class 8405-66-025-6183
A W M 7 (these characters are stamped in faded black ink)
SIZE & WAIST 33R
MATCHING JACKET 37-38R
in a box are the words: DRY CLEAN ONLY.
Re-press on original seams.
Creases set by Si-ro-set.
Mending patch attached. (end of box containing words)
NAME.....DOCKSEY (‘Docksey is in hand-written black ink)
ARMY No.....216308 (numbers also hand-written in black ink)
(the number 40 is also wrtten in faded black ink in the top right corner of the label)